Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a famous artist in the 1980s who was part of an underground scene of visual arts, graffiti, hip-hop, post-punk, and DIY filmmaking. He was known for his expressive style, which was based on raw figures and integrated words and phrases. This book offers an unprecedented insight into his art, with pristine reproductions of his most seminal paintings, drawings, and notebook sketches. It also includes an introduction to the artist from editor Hans Werner Holzwarth and an essay on his themes and artistic development from curator and art historian Eleanor Nairne.

Format: Hardback
Length: 500 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2020
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Jean-Michel Basquiat, a renowned artist synonymous with New York in the 1980s, emerged onto the scene in the late 1970s under the moniker SAMO. With his distinctive style, he left his mark on the city's walls by spray-painting caustic comments and fragmented poems. Basquiat was part of a vibrant underground community that encompassed visual arts, graffiti, hip-hop, post-punk, and DIY filmmaking. This diverse group converged in a thriving art world, creating a cultural explosion. Basquiat, as a painter with a strong personal voice, quickly gained recognition within the established art scene, exhibiting his works in galleries worldwide.

Basquiat's artistic style was characterized by raw figures and integrated words and phrases. His inspiration drew from a diverse range of influences, including jazz, boxing, basketball, and arcane history. When asked about his subject matter, Basquiat succinctly responded, "royalty, heroism, and the streets." In 1983, Basquiat embarked on a creative collaboration with Andy Warhol, a renowned art star, and in 1985, he graced the cover of The New York Times Magazine. Tragically, Basquiat passed away at the age of 27, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as one of the most successful artists of his time.

This captivating book offers an unprecedented glimpse into Basquiat's art, presenting pristine reproductions of his most seminal paintings, drawings, and notebook sketches. In a large-scale format, the book allows for a vivid proximity to Basquiat's intricate marks and scribbled words, further illuminated by an introduction to the artist by editor Hans Werner Holzwarth and an essay on his themes and artistic development by curator and art historian Eleanor Nairne. The book is richly illustrated with year-by-year chapter breaks that follow the artist's life, incorporating quotes from his own statements and contemporary reviews to provide both personal background and historical context.

Weight: 5842g
Dimension: 460 x 320 x 80 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836550376