Jean Michel Basquiat

Introduction: Jean-Michel Basquiat is a African-Puerto Rican NYC Neo-Expressionist painter who was born on the 22nd of December. He started off as a graffiti artist in NYC in the late `70s and later became an acclaimed Neo-expressionist and Primitivist painter by the 1980s. Basquiat died, at the age of 27, of a heroin overdose in his art studio in Great Jones Street in NYC's NoHo neighbourhood.

"Untitled Head-Skull" (1984)

"Untitled Skull" is a work of Basquiat's that features a human head that almost looks like a skull which is kept in place with numerous stitches. The head is shown broken at several places, the teeth, near the left eye, and towards the back of the skull. "Untitled Head-Skull" does not have a certain skin or bone tone colour. Instead, it consists of a variety of raw colours, as if it represents rot and decay. These features give it an appearance of 'Folk' or 'Tribal Art.' The most remarkable aspect of "Untitled Head-Skull," is the eyes, which are looking down towards the floor. The combination of sad eyes and broken teeth is more than likely a representation of a blend of gloom and fear.

"Untitled (Fallen Angel)" 1981

"Untitled Fallen Angel" is one of Basquiat's well known paintings that looks like some sort of evil angel. The facial expression is displaying pain or anguish hence the open red mouth and wide eyes. The body seems to be transparent making the insides very clear to see. This might represent a longing for people to see whats inside a person rather than the outer beauty.  The red, orange and yellow mixing of colours make the wings of the angel appear to have been set on fire. The whole combination of the transparent body, burning wings and painful facial expression can likely symbolise the feelings of pain and anger.