Jean-Michel Basquiat: A Biography

226 Pages·2010·1.36 MB·English

by  Eric Fretz

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
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JEAN-MICHEL
BASQUIAT
A Biography
Eric Fretz
GREENWOOD BIOGRAPHIES
Copyright 2010 by Eric Fretz
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for
the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission
in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fretz, Eric.
Jean-Michel Basquiat : a biography / Eric Fretz.
p. cm. — (Greenwood biographies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-313-38056-3 (hard copy : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-313-38057-0
(ebook) 1. Basquiat, Jean-Michel, 1960–1988. 2. Artists—United
States—Biography. 3. African American artists—Biography. I. Title.
N6537.B233F74 2010
760.092—dc22
[B] 2009050708
ISBN: 978-0-313-38056-3
EISBN: 978-0-313-38057-0
14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5
This book is also available on the World Wide Web as an eBook.
Visit www.abc-clio.com for details.
Greenwood
An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC
ABC-CLIO, LLC
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Santa Barbara, California 93116-1911
This book is printed on acid-free paper
Manufactured in the United States of America
CONTENTS
Series Foreword vii
Preface ix
Introduction xi
Timeline: Events in the Life of Jean-Michel Basquiat xv
Chapter 1 Brooklyn Childhood 1
Chapter 2 Leaving Home 19
Chapter 3 Getting Known 35
Chapter 4 Becoming a Painter 53
Chapter 5 New York / New Wave 67
Chapter 6 Art Star or Gallery Mascot? 81
Chapter 7 Fun 99
Chapter 8 Reaching a Peak 117
Chapter 9 Collaborations 133
Chapter 10 Andy Warhol’s Death 149
vi CONTENTS
Chapter 11 Final Days 161
Chapter 12 Legacy 173
Appendix: List of Works 179
Selected Bibliography 185
Index 189
Photo essay follows page 116
SERIES FOREWORD
I n response to high school and public library needs, Greenwood devel-
oped this distinguished series of full-length biographies specifi cally for
student use. Prepared by fi eld experts and professionals, these engaging
biographies are tailored for high school students who need challeng-
ing yet accessible biographies. Ideal for secondary school assignments,
the length, format and subject areas are designed to meet educators’
requirements and students’ interests.
G reenwood offers an extensive selection of biographies spanning all
curriculum related subject areas including social studies, the s ciences,
literature and the arts, history and politics, as well as popular culture,
covering public fi gures and famous personalities from all time periods
and backgrounds, both historic and contemporary, who have made an
impact on American and/or world culture. Greenwood biographies
were chosen based on comprehensive feedback from librarians and
educators. Consideration was given to both curriculum relevance and
inherent interest. The result is an intriguing mix of the well known
and the unexpected, the saints and sinners from long-ago history and
contemporary pop culture. Readers will fi nd a wide array of subject
choices from fascinating crime fi gures like Al Capone to inspiring
viii SERIES FOREWORD
p ioneers like Margaret Mead, from the greatest minds of our time like
Stephen Hawking to the most amazing success stories of our day like
J. K. Rowling.
While the emphasis is on fact, not glorifi cation, the books are meant
to be fun to read. Each volume provides in-depth information about
the subject’s life from birth through childhood, the teen years, and
adulthood. A thorough account relates family background and educa-
tion, traces personal and professional infl uences, and explores struggles,
accomplishments, and contributions. A timeline highlights the most
signifi cant life events against a historical perspective. Bibliographies
supplement the reference value of each volume.
PREFACE
My aim in writing this book is to produce a biography of Jean-Michel
Basquiat that is based on a critical respect for his work. I have tried to
place that work in the context of his life and times in a way that does
not sensationalize but is interesting and accessible for readers coming
to the subject for the fi rst time. The book describes his life and follows
a chronological pattern, while striving to give a fl avor of the milieus
he lived in. His work deals with important themes, especially African
American history, and so the book includes brief descriptions of some
fi gures found in his art.
L ooking at his work provides an opportunity to learn some of
the many ways that art critics and art historians, in fact anyone
who wants to appreciate art, look at and understand a work. This
is not an art book, based on plates of color pictures, which often
gets looked at but goes unread. It attempts to provide an interest-
ing story of a life. But what makes Basquiat’s complex life especially
interesting is how many of the strands come together in individual
artworks.
Each work discussed in the text is listed in an appendix, giving
details and references to available books or online sources that illustrate