About the artist

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) was a revolutionary American artist whose meteoric rise transformed the landscape of contemporary art. Emerging from the vibrant street culture of 1980s New York, Basquiat began as a graffiti artist before breaking into the gallery world with a visual language that fused text, symbolism, and raw, expressive mark-making. Self-taught and fiercely independent, he used his art to explore identity, power structures, race, and the commodification of culture.

Basquiat’s paintings are urgent, layered, and deeply poetic—filled with crowns, skulls, anatomical drawings, cryptic phrases, and historical references. Drawing from his Haitian and Puerto Rican heritage, African American history, jazz, and the urban energy of downtown NYC, he created a radical new visual lexicon. His work remains as relevant today as ever, speaking to social justice, resilience, and the complexity of the Black experience.

Though his career was tragically short, Basquiat’s impact is profound. Collected by major museums and commanding record-breaking prices at auction, his legacy continues to inspire generations of artists and cultural thinkers. Now at Lougher, collectors have the opportunity to engage with the work of a true icon—where art meets rebellion, brilliance, and truth.