Basquiat : Biography

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a major part of the art scene in the eighties. He originally was noticed for his involvement in the graffiti movement of the late seventies where he, along with companion Al Diaz, went by the tag SAMO. The idea of SAMO was almost like a pseudo-religion, an alternative to the mainstream. Examples of quotes they would write include "PLUSH SAFE HE THINK" and "SAMO AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MINDWASH."

Basquiat was included in his first group show in 1980. In 1981, Rene Ricard published the first major article on Jean-Michel in Artforum Magazine titled "The Radiant Child." This acted as a catalyst to his career. This same artist that was spray-painting quotes throughout New York was now considered a serious fine artist.

About a year or so after the article, he was included in the Whitney Biennial exhbition and began working with Warhol. Basquiat was doing these wonderful large canvases while working in the space provided by his first dealer, Anina Nosei. He would later change dealers many times, and always felt they were using him. It was almost as if he obsessed over this idea, and tried to use the dealers as much as he felt he was being used. Basquiat wanted to be thought of as a fine artist rather than anything to do with "graffiti." He admired artists like Cy Twombly, Franz Kline, and Jean Dubuffet. Some people have a hard time with his work. They find it too primitive or childish.

Tragically, Jean-Michel died in 1988 from a drug overdose. His health had been declining for some time as he became more and more involved with heroine. He left behind a wealth of paintings and drawings. For more info I suggest "A Quick Killing in Art," by Phoebe Hoban. There's also a film titled "Basquiat" that was a project by his friend and fellow artist Julian Schnabel. It has wonderful performances by Jeffrey Wright as Jean-Michel and David Bowie as Warhol.