Jean-Michel Basquiat, Self-Portrait, 1984, acrylic and oil stick on paper mounted on canvas, Yoav Harlap Collection © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/Licensed by Artestar, New YorkNew York City, New York.
Jean-Michel Basquiat is considered to be one of the most influential African-American artists of the late 20th century. The black figure was typically the center of his artwork; as he stated: "Black people are never really portrayed realistically in... I mean, not even portrayed in modern art enough…” His African-American, Caribbean heritage was of the utmost importance to him. He also drew upon South American, Asian, and Western European art. Yet, he wanted to be known simply as an artist.
Basquiat explores himself, his internal struggles, as well as the conflict in the human experience through his paintings. He uses color to communicate to the viewer—his vivid colors are energetic, confrontational. Basquiat depicts himself in this self portrait with eyes, nose, and ears in red, neck and mouth in black, torso in red. His mouth and jagged teeth are emphasized. His hair is wild. He appears comical and depressed at the same time. Basquiat wanted to show us that organs such as the mouth can either make or break life—we all need to watch what we say, to use our minds correctly.
Despite Basquiat’s success, his emotional instability never wained, resulting in using cocaine and heroine excessively. Many speculated his fame, the volatile nature of the art world, and the pressures of being a black man in the white-dominated art world killed him.
It has been the case through the centuries that many creative geniuses, whether artists or composers or writers, etc., have lead tragic lives, often ending in premature deaths. Jean-Michel Basquiat, a gifted artist, never found his place, his specialness and uniqueness, in the art world. Admirably, he was a person who did not see “color”, a person who saw humanity as one.
