Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the musician and artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat.
A pivotal figure of New York’s vibrant art scene, Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn on December 22, 1960, to Matilde and Gérard Basquiat. He had two younger sisters and was raised Catholic. Matilde nurtured Basquiat’s early passion for art, taking him to museums and enrolling him in an arts program. He showed early talent, learned to read and write by age four, and created a children’s book with his friend Marc Prozzo at seven.
While recovering from childhood injuries, Basquiat’s mother gave him “Gray’s Anatomy,” influencing his later art. He left school at 17, sold handmade postcards with Jennifer Stein, and played in the band Gray.
In 1981, Basquiat’s work was included in the “New York New Wave” exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, alongside prominent artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Nan Goldin. He initially exhibited drawings, but by February 1982, he mounted his first solo exhibition of paintings, with every piece selling.
Basquiat is seen as a groundbreaking figure in the neo-expressionist movement, drawing on his experiences as a young Black artist to explore themes of racism, classism, colonialism, and power in American society. His signature motifs, such as the three-pointed crown, poetry, and text, exemplify these themes. His friendship and collaborations with Andy Warhol further demonstrated his engagement with both art and social commentary.
The Radiant Child,” Rene Ricard wrote, “We are no longer collecting art, we are buying individuals. This artwork isn’t by Samo. This is a piece of Samo.” This statement reflected how the government and media’s divided views during the culture wars matched the market-driven approach of the 1980s art scene, dealers, and writers, revealing the complexities of his own position.
Basquiat dated several people, including the singer Madonna. He never publicly called himself bisexual, but friends said he had relationships with men. Joey Arias once said he saw Basquiat and Klaus Nomi together at Nomi’s apartment in New York City.
Suzanne Mallouk, a former partner of Basquiat, said he valued people for a variety of reasons beyond appearance. He was attracted to both men and women, whether they were slim or heavy, conventionally attractive or not. Most importantly, he was drawn to intelligence and an underlying sense of pain.
By the mid-1980s, Basquiat was earning $1.4 million annually, receiving substantial payments from art dealers. Journalist Michael Shnayerson wrote that as Basquiat’s fame and wealth grew, so did his drug use and paranoia. Friends believed these issues were partly caused by the pressures of the art world.
Basquiat struggled with how the art world commodified his work, especially as he became more popular. Even though his career was brief, he achieved a lot. Jean-Michel Basquiat died in 1988 at just 27 years old from an accidental overdose. Today, we honor Jean-Michel Basquiat as our Evolved Man of the Week.
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