🌎 TREE 338: Unruly Figures – Jean-Michel Basquiat
Every Monday in February, Valorie Clark is sharing an episode of her fascinating podcast Unruly Figures. This post will whet your appetite but really good stuff is in the podcast episode. Listen, learn and enjoy. —Jeff
When Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in 1960, probably the only person that expected greatness from him was his mother. She supplied him with access to museums and books and art supplies. When he was hit by a car at age 7, she gave him the medical textbook Gray’s Anatomy to read while he healed from surgery so he could understand what was happening to him.
He soaked it all in.
As a teenager, he and his buddy Al Diaz began experimenting with art and performance – a satirical newspaper, a sound band, graffiti. Together they created SAMO, short for ‘Same Ol Shit’ and tagged NYC with strangely poetic messages that questioned the status quo.
When Basquiat was 21, he was noticed by the art establishment and rocketed to fame. He began showing in galleries worldwide, became friends with Andy Warhol, and dated someday-superstars like Madonna. At the height of his fame, he painted in his signature graffiti-meets-Neo-expressionism style while wearing Armani suits. After, he’d go downtown and party.
By then, Basquiat’s mother had been hospitalised with mental health issues. He was estranged from his father and began using drugs to cope with the onslaught of fame. The more money he made, the more he withdrew. At just 27, he died of an overdose.
He changed the world, or at least the art establishment. His greatness forced them to realise they’d been marginalising Black artists to their own detriment. Now he’s known as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Basquiat created a triptych dedicated to great jazz musicians, and in the centre specifically referenced this song.
 | A guest post by
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Thanks Valorie for introducing me to a beautiful soul. His introversion produced a dynamic artfield. Though he was alone, he wasn’t lonely due to his energy expended on his necessity to pour out his tremendous feelings. How brilliant he still shines! As so many stars like him, they burn out quickly, giving their all. But their gifts to us remain. It seems introversion is part of creativity. What say ye?