Jean-Michel Basquiat: Portraits

An icon of late 20th century art, Jean-Michel Basquiat is considered by critics as the pioneer of the street art, "art brut" and neo-expressionism movements of 1980's America. His contributions to the art world elevated street art to the level of a fine art, and by the end of the decade he was mixing with the elites of the New-York scene, such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Blondie and Madonna. 

His artwork has many influences, such as his Haitian origins and its mythology, voodoo, the Bible, mixed with contemporary sources of inspiration such as Pop Art and its links to advertising, consumption and the media. His portraiture often includes motifs like skulls, gaunt portraits, and chaotic scribbling, with overarching themes like the morbid and macabre. His energetic yet violent style is instantly recognisable. 

Although the artist's career came crashing to a premature end with his tragic death in 1988, Basquiat's portfolio contains an incredible catalogue of more than 1000 paintings and 800 drawings. His portraiture is amongst the most recognisable and sought-after pieces in the art world, often breaking records at auction. Find a piece for your own personal collection on Artsper!