Jean-Michel Basquiat - The Neo-Expressionist & Graffiti Milestone!

Since his childhood, Jean had an interest in art. Michel's mother noticed this. Knowing his interest and keenness, she encouraged her child to paint and draw. At the age of seventeen, in 1977, Michel, along with his friend, Al Diaz, started spray painting graffiti in Manhattan and on the subways. Jean-Michel and his friend would sign their works with 'SAMO'. In December 1978, the Village Voice, New York's weekly newspaper, carried an article on 'SAMO' messages. SAMO phase ended with the declaration "SAMO IS DEAD" on the walls of SoHo buildings.

In 1978, just a year before his graduation from school, Jean left home and dropped out of school. He started living with his friends, and would sell T-shirts and painted postcards on the city streets for his livelihood. By the year 1979, he had become quite famous, as he was regular on Glenn O'Brien's show, TV Party. In June 1980, Jean-Michel's paintings were exhibited for the first time at the Times Square Show, along with the artworks of David Hammons, Mimi Gross, Mike Glier, Robin Winters, Jane Dickson, Lee Quinones, Kenny Scharf, Kiki Smith, and Jenny Holzer. After this exhibition, Jean started exhibiting his art in Europe and around the New York City. He also worked with great painters such as Barbara Kruger and Keith Haring. 1980s was the era, when Jean-Michel Basquiat gained popularity as a Neo-expressionist.

By 1984, Jean had started taking drugs and developed an addiction for heroine. Owing drug abuse, he suffered from paranoia and erratic behavior. 1982-85, Jean Basquiat's paintings graduated to multipanel level, stretcher bars displaying, collage, and scribbles. The death of Andy Warhol in 1987 took its toll on Jean-Michel Basquiat, and his drug addiction symptoms augmented. He tried hard to get rid of his heroine habit. He left for Hawaii and returned claiming he had recovered from the drug addiction. On August 12, 1988 though, at the age of 27, Jean died of drug overdose. Though no more around, but Jean, through his paintings, continues to inspire the modern artists such as Mark Gonzales, Kelly D. Williams, Chinghalle, and Raymond Morris.