Basquiat

The short, prolific, deeply political career of a cult figure. Basquiat is an introduction to Jean-Michel Basquiat — the artist who moved from the streets of New York to the walls of its most prominent galleries in a matter of years, and reshaped what contemporary art could look like along the way.

The book explores how the young trailblazer drew from inspirations as varied as Greek, Roman, and African art, alongside French poetry and jazz, to create visceral images mixing word with bold color. Fueled by social commentary and a raw, urgent visual language, Basquiat's work still crackles with the energy of the moment it was made — and the movement it announced.

The trailblazer who changed the canvas.