Who Was Jean-Michel Basquiat?Graffiti Art Lives!

"Basquiat"

Who? That is what I thought once...

Graffiti art lives! And it lives on canvas and the prints made of the great abstract artist.

The first time I ever heard of Jean-Michel Basquiat was when I accidentally picked up a video called "Basquiat".

As an artist myself I seek out movies about artists. Somewhere in other artists I find pieces of myself. Discover more about Basquiat and see if you don't feel a bit of the same.

The art:

Untitled acrylic, oilstick and spray paint on canvas painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1981

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Turn On Some Music

while you enjoy learning about Basquiat

What I love about Basquiat was his dedication to his work. It is the common denominator to all great artists I think.

I love his sense of playfulness in his work. It is that child inside of us all longing to get out and express our inner feelings.

Another thing I love about Basquiat is the CONNECTIONS he made. Meeting Andy Warhol for Basquiat was for him the beginning of fame. I wonder if he would have been recognized otherwise? His work is wonderful so I am thinking.. YES!

The painting:

Untitled_painting_by_--Jean-Michel_Basquiat

Inspirational Art Quotes by the American expressionist artist Jean Michel Basquiat

born Jean Michel Basquiat - New York, USA - 22nd of December, 1960 / Died - 12th of August, 1988 - USA

Popular Jean Michel Basquiat works include graffiti influenced naïve, expressionist paintings, often including text and images from popular culture. Many paintings were also painted on found objects, old boards, and furniture.

Graffiti - Basquiat began as a graffiti artist, signing his name as SAMO. Below are a few SAMO sayings or SAMO quotes..

SAMO as a neo art form.

SAMO as an end to to mindwash religion, nowhere politics and bogus philosophy.

SAMO as an escape clause.

SAMO as an end to playing art.

SAMO as an end to bogus pseudo intellectual. My mouth, therefore an error. Plush safe.. he think.

SAMO as an alternative 2 playing art with the 'radical chic' sect on Daddy's $ funds.

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He says he's jealous of the moon, because you look at it. He's jealous of the sun, because it warms you. He says, "I feel you, even when I'm not feeling you. I talk to you when I'm not talking to you. I love you, even when I'm not loving you."... you know I love you, Gina.

Basquiat:

I gotta get out of New York...

Andy Warhol:

Hey, we could go to Pittsburgh! I kinda grew up there. They have this room with all the world's famous statues in it, so you don't even have to go to Europe any more... just go to Pittsburgh

Rene:

What's your name?

Basquiat:

Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Rene:

Oh my God, you sound famous already!

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Every line means something.

I start a picture and I finish it. I don't think about art while I work. I try to think about life.

I don't listen to what art critics say. I don't know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.

I had some money, I made the best paintings ever. I was completely reclusive, worked a lot, took a lot of drugs. I was awful to people.

I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too abstract expressionist, or I'd draw a ram's head, really messy. I'd never win painting contests. I remember losing to a guy who did a perfect spiderman.

I am not a black artist, I am an artist.

Believe it or not, I can actually draw.

I want to be a star not a gallery mascot.

Since I was seventeen, I thought I might be a star. I'd think about all my heroes, Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix.. I had a romantic feeling of how people had become famous.

~Basquiat

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Basquiat's art is very graffiti like.. well a lot of it is. Do you think graffiti is art? If it is, and it were put on canvas or a 'paid for commission on a wall' would it then be art?

If neighborhoods created a place for art I personally believe that 'graffiti' that defaces buildings and neighborhoods, that define gangs so often, could be replaced on canvas.

What do you think?

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Can neighborhood art programs make a difference in defining frustrated graffiti artists, thus giving them a real venue for creativity?

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Have a lovely day!

Dream on color!

Kathy

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The painting:

Basquiat / Sin Ttulo (1981)

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