Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of the most well-known artists of the 20th century thanks to his street-art creations featuring obsessive scribbling, mysterious symbols and diagrams, and iconography such as skulls, masks, and the artist's signature crown. Before settling into a studio practice, the self-taught painter became involved with graffiti, and befriending Andy Warhol who guided Basquiat through New York art scene of the 1980s. His own Caribbean ancestry, the blending of African American, African, and Aztec cultural histories, classical themes, and pop culture icons like musicians and athletes were all influences on Basquiat's work. He received widespread praise for his paintings' intellectual depth and immediacy before and after his tragic death at the age of 27.
