Jean-Michel Basquiat's symbolic, complex and often emotionally charged work had an enormous impact on the New York art scene of the 1980s. Although his career was all too brief and ended with his death at the age of 27, Basquiat left an immense legacy, not only in the number of works he produced, but also in the messages he encoded around political, social, racial and cultural issues.

This gripping book shows how Basquiat used an intricate web of signs and symbols to challenge the very system that made him a star of the art world. It explores his sources of inspiration, ranging from cartoons, children's drawings and advertising to his Haitian and Puerto Rican heritage. It also looks at the influence of African-American, African and Aztec cultural histories on his work, and reveals how Basquiat incorporated both classical themes and contemporary icons, from athletes to musicians.

What is clear is that, even at such a young age, Basquiat had a deep understanding of the artist's role in art history and of his position as a young black artist in a world marked by racism, oppression, and social injustice. This book helps readers decipher Basquiat's singularly frank style, an electrifying body of work full of social commentary: incisive, furious, comic, irreverent, and yet heartbreaking. A work that remains as powerful and significant today as it was in its time.

Publisher: Prestel