Jean-Michel Basquiat
“Believe it or not I can actually Draw”
Jean-Michel Basquiat was born on December 22nd in 1960 and was a talented artist that was part of the Neo-expressionist movement. His paintings were exhibited in galleries and museums internationally in the early 1980s. Basquiat was an American artist with a Haitin and Puerto Rican background. Although his career was short he achieved a lot during it, he was a graffiti prodigy. He became the youngest artist at 21 to ever take part in the Documenta in Kassel. At 22, he was the youngest to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in New York. The Whitney Museum of American Art held a retrospective of his art in 1992.
Basquiat’s art focused on differences such as wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience. He used drawing, painting poetry, and married text and imagery which made for very strong compositions. Basquiat used social commentary in his paintings as a tool for introspection and for identifying with his experiences in the black community. His work also attacked power structures and systems of racism. He passed away on August 12, 1988 due to a heroin overdose.
Basquiat’s art really stuck out to me because of the unique streetwear style all his paintings had. I love the vibrancy of colors as well as how loose and spontaneous all his brush strokes look. I personally find it very liberating to just have full creative freedom and just let loose on paintings rather than trying to achieve something perfect and structured.
Bibliography
https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/jean-michel-basquiat-family-talks-legacy/
Jeff Burgess
Nuha,
Excellent presentation on Claude Lorrain! Good insight into his work and good background combined with personal thoughts and ideas on his work. Your research was solid. Well paced and relaxed flow to the presentation. Also making the connection with JMW Turner was important. Well Done!
10/10
Jeff
Jeff Burgess
Nuha,
Nice work on your last two posts on de Chirico and Basquiat. Some steady and good research ending with your personal thoughts on the works in question. Well done on all fronts this term.
Jeff
Jeff Burgess
Nuha,
I’ve corrected the final quiz and your score was 45/50 which is an A+. Great work this term and I hope you have a good holiday break.
Jeff