ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Video recounts Jean-Michel Basquiat's life and art

other · 2026-04-27

A video by Alberto Mattia Martini on Artribune recounts the life of Jean-Michel Basquiat, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960. At 17, he left home and school, living on the streets and creating street art under the tag SAMO. He later frequented Andy Warhol's Factory and became friends with Keith Haring. His work addressed anatomy, history, street life, religion, voodoo, music, comics, sports myths, irony, and irreverence. Basquiat rose to prominence as a leading artist of his generation. His biography, marked by malaise and melancholy, is key to understanding his art and the historical-social period. He died at 27 in his New York home from a heroin overdose in 1988.

Key facts

  • Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960.
  • At age 17, he left home and school to live on the streets.
  • He began creating street art signed SAMO.
  • He frequented Andy Warhol's Factory and was friends with Keith Haring.
  • His art covered anatomy, history, street life, religion, voodoo, music, comics, sports myths, irony, and irreverence.
  • Basquiat became one of the most important artists of his generation.
  • His biography is essential to understanding his art and the historical-social context.
  • He died at 27 in his New York home from a heroin overdose in 1988.

Entities

Artists

  • Jean-Michel Basquiat
  • Andy Warhol
  • Keith Haring
  • Alberto Mattia Martini

Institutions

  • Artribune
  • Factory

Locations

  • Brooklyn
  • New York
  • United States

Sources