ART To intrigue, to enlighten, to inspire.
ART IN REAL LIFE By: Krista Nguyen Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in 1960 in Brooklyn, New York. He is of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent. He is an American artist apart of the Neo-Expressionism movement. Basquiat’s artwork style consists of graffiti, street art, and primitivism. In Basquiat’s early life, his mother encouraged his craft. He learned how to draw and paint, showing remarkable talent. Together, with his mother, they attended museum exhibitions in New York City. Eventually, he became a Junior Member of the Brooklyn Museum at age six. His art career kicked off with graffiti street art with his friend, Al Diaz. Basquiat went under the name, “SAMO” and presented their art on buildings in Manhattan. By 1980, he became a well-known artist and had his first exhibition within the same year. Basquiat’s work typically addresses racial injustice within America and historical events, such as slave trades. His influences include renowned artists: Pablo Picasso and Leonardo Da Vinci. He also draws influence from punk and hip-hop.
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