Take a close look at the signs, symbols, and scribbles of Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose paintings today retain the same freshness and relevance as in 1980s New York. This XXL-format monograph gathers exquisite reproductions of his most outstanding works, accompanied by texts from editor Hans Werner Holzwarth and curator and art historian Eleanor Nairne. The definitive portrait of an artist whose legend remains alive, an emblem of 1980s New York.

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) first burst onto the New York art scene under the alias SAMO, when he sprayed sarcastic comments and fragmented poems on the city’s walls. As that underground scene, marked by urban art, hip-hop, and post-punk, made its way into more established circuits, Basquiat made the leap to galleries.

Moving from painting on walls to canvas, Basquiat found a language of great expressive power, where text and image, historical references, and critique of his time naturally intertwine. His paintings read like diaries because the subjects deeply concerned him. Often political, they reflect his experiences as a Black artist in a scene very aware of status. Inspired by jazz stars, great boxers, or basketball players, he responded when asked about his themes: “Kings, heroism, and the street.”

His success was dazzling: by 1981 he was already in New York’s main galleries and, shortly after, his name was known worldwide. In 1983 he began collaborating with Andy Warhol and in 1985 appeared on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. That intensity came at a cost: at only 27 years old, Basquiat died of an overdose. He left a body of work that has not lost its freshness, spontaneity, and power to this day.

After numerous exhibition catalogs and memoirs, this large-format monograph allows for studying his works with magnificent detailed reproductions. The extensive image catalog is complemented by an introduction from editor Hans Werner Holzwarth and an essay by curator Eleanor Nairne on his themes and artistic evolution.