Basquiat, Jean-Michel

: (1960–88) Initially gained notoriety as a graffiti poet and musician. By 1981, at the age of twenty, he had turned from spraying graffiti on the walls of buildings in Lower Manhattan to selling paintings in SoHo galleries, rapidly becoming one of the most accomplished artists of his generation. Astute collectors began buying his art, and his gallery shows sold out. Critics noted the originality of his work, its emotional depth, unique iconography, and formal strengths in color, composition, and drawing. By 1985, he was featured on the cover of The New York Times Magazine as the epitome of the hot, young artist in a booming market. Tragically, Basquiat died of a drug overdose when he was just twenty-seven years old.

Content (1 results)

• Chimurenga 9: Conversations in Luanda and Other Graphic Stories