Jean-Michel Basquiat born in Broklyn, New York, on December 22nd 1960 was an American painter known for his raw gestural style of painting with graffiti-like images and scrawled text.
He first attracted attention for his graffiti under the name of "SAMO" in New York City. He was one of the first African American artists to reach international stature and wealth in the art world. His rise to fame came quickly, as he was celebrated for his fusion of multicultural symbols, biting social commentary, and distinctive graphic style. He became one of the most celebrated, and possibly most commercially exploited American "naif" painters of the widely celebrated Neo-Expressionism art movement. Basquiat was befriended by many celebrities and artists, including Andy Warhol, with whom he made several collaborative works.

At only 27, his troubles with fame and drug addiction led to his tragic death from an overdose in New York. Today, his works are held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Rubell Family Collection in Miami, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, amongst others.