The legend ofis as strong as ever., the artist first appeared in the late 1970s under the tag SAMO, spraying caustic comments and fragmented poems on the walls of the city. He appeared as, which met in a booming art world. As a painter with a strong personal voice, Basquiat soon broke into the established milieu, exhibiting in galleries around the world.Basquiat’s expressive style was based on. His work is inspired by a pantheon of luminaries from jazz, boxing, and basketball, with references to arcane history and the politics of street life—so when asked about his subject matter, Basquiat answered “royalty, heroism and the streets.” In 1983 he started collaborating with the most famous of art stars,, and in 1985 was on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. When Basquiat died at the age of 27, he had becomeThis book allows an unprecedented insight into Basquiat’s art, with pristine reproductions of. In large-scale format, the book offersto Basquiat’s intricate marks and scribbled words, further illuminated by an introduction to the artist from editor, as well as an essay on his themes and artistic development from curator and art historian. Richly illustrated year-by-year chapter breaks follow the artist’s life and quote from his own statements and contemporary reviews to provide both personal background and historical context.