Jean-Michel Basquiat was a young American artist of Haitian descent who died at the age of 27. Considered to be the "youngest major artist" of his time, Basquiat is known for his large-scale paintings and prints, as well as his drawings and collages. He grew up in a family of painters – his mother was a professional portraitist – and he was introduced to art at an early age. He went on to attend Pratt Institute, where his talent as a painter was noticed by students and faculty alike
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In 1979, he had his first one-man show at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City. In the early 1980s, he became involved with Andy Warhol's Factory scene and gained fame as a graffiti artist. In 1984, Basquiat exhibited a series of works at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
He is considered one of the most important artists of his generation.