Is Basquiat a self-portrait?

Although the piece is presented primarily as a critique of Black policemen, some scholars have also read it as a self-portrait of Basquiat himself, as an artist of color vying for recognition, acceptance, and success in a predominantly White art world while simultaneously trying to stay true to his racial and cultural roots.

What is the size of Basquiat's painting?

It was hurriedly painted on October 4, 1982 following a lunch meeting between the two artists arranged by art dealer, Bruno Bischofberger. Basquiat had the wet canvas delivered to Warhol within 2 hours after their meeting. The unframed sheet measures approximately 15 x 11.25 inches.

How old was Basquiat when he died?

Basquiat started out as a graffiti artist in Manhattan and eventually had his paintings displayed in museums around the world-he was actually the youngest artist to ever take part in the Documenta exhibit in Germany when he was just 21 years old. Basquiat died in 1988, but his work is still extremely well-known internationally.

What are Basquiat's graffiti marks?

Graffiti marks appear throughout his compositions as invocations or unfathomable musical notes. Cultural references such as “same old, same old” or “same old shit” are compressed into a convenient one-liner, “SAMO,” which was Basquiat’s moniker when he was a graffiti artist in the late 1970s, and later became his signature.