Born: December 22, 1960, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: August 12, 1988, New York City, USA
Nationality: American
Style: Neo-Expressionism, Street Art
Influences: Graffiti, primitivism, Jean Dubuffet
"I don't think about art when I'm working. I try to think about life."
Notable Artwork
Untitled (Skull) (1981)
About Jean-Michel Basquiat
Born: December 22, 1960, Brooklyn, New York, USA Died: August 12, 1988, New York City, USA Nationality: American Style: Neo-Expressionism, Street Art Influences: Graffiti, primitivism, Jean Dubuffet Major Exhibitions: “Untitled (Skull)” (1981), “Irony of Negro Policeman” (1981), “Hollywood Africans” (1983) Quote: “I don’t think about art when I’m working. I try to think about life.”
Notable Artwork: Untitled (Skull) (1981)
This painting features a skull-like head rendered in Basquiat’s signature style, with vibrant colors, graffiti-like markings, and fragmented text. The work combines elements of street art, Abstract Expressionism, and African art.
Significance
Untitled (Skull) is a powerful example of Basquiat’s raw, energetic style and his engagement with themes of race, identity, death, and the urban environment. His work brought a new voice and perspective to the art world, drawing on his Haitian and Puerto Rican heritage and his experiences as a young Black artist in New York City.