American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat lived from 1960– 1988, and his artistic impact continues to loom larger than the 27 years of his lifetime. With his work designated as neo-expressionist, Basquiat typified the freedom of Manhattan’s downtown art scene and its range of influences during the 1980s.
Basquiat’s enigmatic style originated via his participation in the graffiti duo SAMO, who scrawled epigrams around New York’s Lower East Side, then the epicenter of underground music and street art. This exposure catapulted Basquiat’s recognition by the art world, and by the early 1980s, his paintings were presented in museums and galleries internationally. At age 22, Basquiat became one of the youngest artists to participate in New York’s Whitney Museum Biennial. Even with success, Basquiat’s work retained its humility. Aspects of his methodology have been revealed over time. The Jean-Michel Basquiat The Notebooks Book is a recreation of eight Basquiat notebooks, which were rarely seen during his lifetime but contain numerous signature hand-rendered motifs.
Basquiat’s fusion of styles has inspired countless generations after his time. Collectors can experience the renaissance of his iconic motifs in licensed collectibles featuring his imagery, such as Bearbrick, which has outfitted their signature bears with Basquiat's crown and text imagery. Many noteworthy artists have lent their talents to a range of media types, and collectors of Basquiat merchandise would also do well to peruse StockX’s assortment of prints, where works from a range of international artists are represented.
