IndexThesisBiographical OutlineContributionMeaning of ContributionOther ContributionsConclusionBibliographyThesisDuring the 1980s there was one artist in particular who had the gift of translation. He was able to take art from the street and translate it into beautiful works that could be understood in galleries. This artist was Jean-Michel Basquiat. He is best known for his graphic and edgy style. This style addressed issues such as race, culture, and heritage in a provocative and loud way. His infamous street art became iconic and brought light to the era of Neo-Expressionism, as well as empowering art as a whole. Paintings like Untitled Skull were an important part of this movement in this artistic era. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Biographical Sketch Jean Michel Basquiat was born on December 22, 1960 in Brooklyn, New York, to a Haitian father, named Gerard Basquiat, and a Puerto Rican mother, named Matilde Andrade. He was the eldest of three children. Leanne and Jeanine were his sisters. He learned to read and write at the age of four and by the age of eleven he could do so in English, French and Spanish. His artistic abilities were recognized at an early age by his mother and teachers. With their recognition came support and encouragement. As a boy, Basquiat's mother took him to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, where he was enrolled as a junior member. This art museum experience was what exposed him to different artists, pieces and types of paintings. Jean Michel was hit by a car when he was eight years old. This accident caused him numerous internal injuries, forcing him to stay in hospital for an entire month. During this time, his mother bought him the book Gray's Anatomy, an English textbook of human anatomy, to keep him occupied during this time. Shortly after his recovery from the car accident, his parents separated. His mother was sent in and out of mental intuitions. Due to his instability, his father raised him and his siblings. Basquiat dropped out of high school at age 17 and left home. He lived on the streets with friends and fellow artists. It gained attention in the late 1970s under the name "SAMO". He labeled Manhattan subways and trains with cryptic aphorisms with the help of close friends. To make ends meet he also sold sweatshirts and postcards with his artwork. Basquiat's career lasted just a decade and culminated in his untimely death at the age of 27. Contribution Jean Michel Basquiat never hid his past from the public, he showed no shame or even the need to reverse negative stereotypes about African-Americans. Basquiat publicized most of the details of his life in paintings. He did not feel welcome in upper-class black artistic communities, which explains why he did not involve himself in the black political arena. While he was not involved in politics that directly affected African Americans, he criticized and made statements in his works that condemned the mistreatment of his race and others. He repeated themes in his paintings, representing his ideas in an innovative and intellectual way. At first glance his works appear to have a primitive style, but the symbolism used and his chaotic and discordant technique only increase the impact of the message he tries to send. His use of words, phrases, arrows, symbols and scribbles is the reason for much of this discord; but perhaps he felt that his message would not be heard unless he made use of it. The messages in his paintings are bold andprovocative. A sort of anger and contempt towards the human condition is almost expressed in some of his works. His paintings depict a deeply rooted hostility towards the exploitation and corruption of the innocent. Exploitation for capital gains through the use of religion, land grabbing from natives and also through excessive industrialization and commercialization at the expense of those who have no power. Importance of Contribution Basquiat's work is a crucial part of the Neo-Expressionist movement - an artistic movement defined by intense reflection with subjectivity, rough treatment of materials, expressive brushwork, and intense color. Basquiat's technique manifests itself in his brutal and crude depiction of subjects and themes, and in his ruthless commitment to using this technique to overturn the standards of the art world. Take “Untitled” (1982), for example, the piece takes a raw but personal skull subject and renders it with heavily applied paint and frenetic, sprawling lines that create an intense energy. “Untitled” (1982) also shows us one of Basquiat's most recurring motifs; the skull. Basquiat had an intense obsession with limbs that began when his mother gave him the book Gray's Anatomy after he was hit by a car. The crown is another key motif, which he used to honor the majesty of his heroes: innovative black athletes, musicians and writers. He also used the crown in his self-portraits. Other Contributions Unlike many artists who came before him, primitivism was also present in Basquiat's work. Basquiat's primitivism led him to address issues of race and class in his own reality and he never borrowed from "non-Western" culture. The history of the American civil rights movement of African Americans fascinated him so much. These ideas are addressed in his work, combining them with the battle against racism in the American context of the 70s and 80s. After realizing that blacks were missing from the history of American art, he painted his heroes, using their figures and their words. Abuse of power by authority is criticized by Basquiat, especially police brutality. After the 1983 death of fellow artist Michael Stewart, Basquiat was shocked to learn that Stewart had been beaten to death by New York police. This led to the creation of “Defacement (The Death of Michael Stewart),” his death but also challenging the police brutality that black men might face for pursuing their art. Conclusion Jean-Michel Basquiat has moved from his city origins to the international art gallery circuit. Basquiat became a celebrated, and arguably the most commercially exploited, American painter in the celebrated art movement of Neo-Expressionism. His work is an example of how American artists have once again managed to introduce the human aspect into their work after the enormous achievement of minimalism and conceptualism. The works of former graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat have penetrated the global art scene with unparalleled speed. His work attracted the attention of major art dealers such as Bruno Bischofberger, Mary Boone and Anina Nosei. His work also captivated a wide audience that ranged from vagrants to high society. Today his paintings are compared to ancient tribal drawings and kindergarten doodles. The comparisons are intended to show the works' raw innocence and tone of legitimacy. All in all, there is nothing childish about the communicative power of Basquiat's work. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay. His paintings express various themes such as 22 (2016):, 2006.