Basquiat - In Italian

Born in Brooklyn to a Puerto Rican mother and a Haitian father, Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) became known for painting graffiti in the streets of New York from 1976, signed SAMO ("Same Old Shit"). A close friend of Andy Warhol, whom he met in 1980, he is one of the major players in the New York underground. His work features themes of anatomy, graffiti and primitive art through an original, violent and colorful style.

"In Italian" (1983) is an emblematic work of Basquiat's work, which contains all the specificities: bright colors of the writings, intertwined drawings, the mixed technique combining acrylic, grease pencil and marker on two adjoining panels. During the last period of his short life, when his heroin consumption increased and he was devastated by the recent death of Andy Warhol, he created Pegasus (1987). In Greek mythology, Pegasus is the winged horse born from the blood of Medusa when Perseus decapitated her. He became a symbol of fame and wisdom. The title of "Life like son of Barney Hill" (1983) refers to a news story from 1961: The Barney Hill Affair, which was the first alleged case of alien abduction. It includes among his favorite subjects: death, money and the supernatural.

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