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Jean-Michel Basquiat art

8 key works, 43 websites, 8 books, 7 auction houses, 17 video searches, 13 social links, 18 products about Jean-Michel Basquiat · updated 16 October 2026

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) went from spraying cryptic SAMO© slogans on Lower Manhattan walls to showing at Documenta at 21. His paintings – full of crowns, skulls, words and Black heroes – made him a star of 1980s New York and, after his early death, one of the most valuable artists in the world.

Here you find his official site and the estate's channels, the key works, the places in New York linked to him, current exhibitions, museums and galleries with his work, auction results, films and YouTube videos, books, the artists around him, and Basquiat posters, prints and gifts on Amazon.

Own a Jean-Michel Basquiat work or print? Get a free value estimate from a photo on StreetArtValue.com – with price range, signs of authenticity and next steps.

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Jean-Michel Basquiat at a glance

Born
22 December 1960, Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York
Died
12 August 1988, New York City, aged 27
Family
Father Gérard from Haiti, mother Matilde of Puerto Rican descent; sisters Lisane and Jeanine
Movement
Neo-expressionism; began as the graffiti duo SAMO© with Al Diaz
Known for
Crowns, skulls and words, Black historical figures, his collaborations with Andy Warhol
Firsts
Youngest artist ever at Documenta in Kassel (1982, aged 21)
Record
Untitled (1982), a skull painting, sold for $110.5 million in 2017
Estate
Run by his family; official site basquiat.com
Authentication
The Basquiat authentication committee disbanded in 2012 – provenance matters more than ever

Life of Jean-Michel Basquiat

  1. 1960Born on 22 December in Park Slope, Brooklyn, the second of four children of Gérard Basquiat from Haiti and Matilde Basquiat of Puerto Rican descent. His mother takes him to museums and makes him a junior member of the Brooklyn Museum.
  2. 1978–1980With his friend Al Diaz he writes SAMO© slogans across Lower Manhattan. He sells postcards in SoHo – one of them to Andy Warhol – and plays in the band Gray.
  3. 1980Shows at the Times Square Show, where critics such as Jeffrey Deitch notice him, and starts filming «Downtown 81».
  4. 1981The dealer Annina Nosei takes him into her gallery and gives him space to paint in its basement.
  5. 1982At 21 becomes the youngest artist ever to show at Documenta in Kassel. Bruno Bischofberger becomes his worldwide dealer; he paints in Los Angeles for Larry Gagosian.
  6. 1983Moves into a loft owned by Andy Warhol at 57 Great Jones Street and produces the hip-hop record Beat Bop with Rammellzee and K-Rob.
  7. 1984–1985Paints dozens of works together with Andy Warhol, including «Olympics» and «Taxi, 45th/Broadway».
  8. 1988Dies on 12 August of a heroin overdose in his Great Jones Street studio, aged 27.
  9. Since 1988His work rises steadily in value – in 2017 a 1982 skull painting sells for $110.5 million. His family curates «King Pleasure» (2022), and in 2025 the block of Great Jones Street is named Jean-Michel Basquiat Way.

Key works by Jean-Michel Basquiat

From the SAMO© walls to his greatest paintings: the works that define Basquiat, in date order.

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Jean-Michel Basquiat websites

Start with the official site run by his family, then the best overviews on Wikipedia and The Art Story.

Jean-Michel Basquiat in public space – murals & sculptures

Basquiat's street work was the SAMO© tag, and little of it survives. The places tied to him are in downtown New York – above all 57 Great Jones Street, now on Jean-Michel Basquiat Way.

Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibitions

Basquiat is shown worldwide every year. In 2026 there are exhibitions in Miami and, from December, in Udine – check the estate's news for the latest.

Jean-Michel Basquiat in museums

His paintings are spread across many collections. The Broad has one of the largest; the estate keeps a list of museums with his work.

Where to buy Jean-Michel Basquiat – galleries

Gagosian and Bischofberger were among his dealers in his lifetime. Today his prints trade through specialists and marketplaces – unique works mostly through major galleries and auction houses.

Jean-Michel Basquiat blogs & articles

Essays and reports on his symbols – crowns, skulls, words – and on the films and auctions that keep him in the news.

Jean-Michel Basquiat auction results

Basquiat is one of the most expensive artists at auction. For prints compare the same edition; for unique works provenance decides almost everything.

Jean-Michel Basquiat on YouTube: documentaries, interviews & tutorials

Start with the documentaries The Radiant Child and Boom for Real. On YouTube people also look for his interviews and for art lessons for children.

Jean-Michel Basquiat on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest & Flickr

The estate posts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube; the hashtag pages show how his crown and images live on.

Jean-Michel Basquiat originals, prints & collectibles on eBay

Posthumous prints, posters, skate decks and books trade on eBay. Be very careful with anything sold as an original or as «SAMO» – or check its value first.

Books about Jean-Michel Basquiat

From the large Taschen overview to biographies, his notebooks and a picture book for children.

Basquiat was at the centre of downtown New York in the early 1980s – these artists were his partners, friends and collaborators.

Street art Jean-Michel Basquiat posters, prints & books on Amazon

Basquiat posters, prints, clothing and gifts on Amazon – licensed products and reproductions, not originals. For real works see galleries and auction results.

Questions about Jean-Michel Basquiat

Who was Jean-Michel Basquiat?

An American painter (1960–1988) from Brooklyn, of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent. He started out with the graffiti tag SAMO© and became one of the most important artists of 1980s New York before he died at 27.

What does the crown in Basquiat's work mean?

There is no single meaning. The three-pointed crown is usually read as a sign of royalty and respect – Basquiat used it to crown Black heroes, musicians, athletes and himself. It also carries irony and the tension between fame and vulnerability.

What was SAMO?

SAMO© – short for «same old shit» – was a graffiti tag Basquiat and Al Diaz wrote across Lower Manhattan from 1978 to 1980, with cryptic, poetic slogans. It ended with the message «SAMO© is dead».

How much is a Basquiat worth?

Posters and posthumous prints sell for hundreds to a few thousand dollars. Drawings and paintings reach millions – a 1982 skull painting sold for $110.5 million in 2017. Compare auction results above or get a free estimate from a photo.

How do I know if a Basquiat is real?

The official authentication committee disbanded in 2012, so provenance is key: a documented history back to the artist, his dealers or major sales. Be very careful with works that come without paperwork, and ask a major auction house or specialist before you buy.

Where can I see Basquiat paintings?

The Broad in Los Angeles has one of the largest public collections. Works are also at the Whitney, MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum and The Met in New York; the estate's website lists museums worldwide. In 2026 there are shows in Miami and, from December, in Udine.

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