James Marshall Paintings

James Marshall, commonly known as Jean-Michel Basquiat, was an influential African-American artist whose career spanned the late 1970s through the 1980s. He was born on December 22, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Haitian father and a Puerto Rican mother. From an early age, Basquiat showed an interest in art, being encouraged by his mother who took him to art museums in New York and enrolled him as a junior member of the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Basquiat's art was heavily influenced by his cultural heritage, his socio-political views, and his experiences in New York City, especially those from the street culture of the 1970s and 1980s. In his late teens, he first gained attention for his graffiti under the name SAMO©, which stood for 'Same Old Shit.' Working with his friend Al Diaz, Basquiat's graffiti was a combination of aphorisms and cryptic messages that critiqued the establishment while also commenting on race and class.

By the early 1980s, Basquiat transitioned from street art into the gallery scene. His paintings were characterized by their raw intensity and the use of poetry, drawing, and painting. His work often featured a fusion of words, symbols, stick figures, and animals, alongside a collage of paint and materials. Basquiat drew his subject matter from his personal heritage, historical figures, and contemporary issues, such as racism and class struggle. His work was part of the Neo-expressionism movement, which sought to bring emotion and humanity back into art.

In 1981, Basquiat's work was featured in a group show with the likes of Keith Haring and Barbara Kruger, which put him on the radar of the art world. His career took off, and he became known for his collaborations with the likes of Andy Warhol. Despite his rising fame, Basquiat struggled with heroin addiction and the pressures of his rapidly growing success.

Tragically, Jean-Michel Basquiat's life was cut short when he died of a heroin overdose on August 12, 1993, at the age of 27. Despite his brief career, Basquiat's legacy continues to have a profound impact on the art world. His work has been displayed in museums worldwide, and his influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary artists.