Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a famous Haitian-American artist and ex-boyfriend of Famous American singer Madonna.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York, His father Gerard Basquiat was of Haitian origin and a former Haitian Minister of the Interior, His mother Matilde was Puerto Rican.

Jean-Michel Basquiat gained popularity first as a graffiti artist in New York City, Basquiat and his friend Al Diaz started spray-painting graffiti art on slum buildings in lower Manhattan, adding the infamous signature of "SAMO" or "SAMO shit" (i.e., "same ol' shit").

Jean-Michel Basquiat soon a successful 1980s-era Neo-expressionist artist.

In 1996, American singer Madonna wrote a short essay on Jean-Michel Basquiat for The Guardian prior to a show of his work at London's Serpentine Gallery.

"He was one of the few people I was truly envious of," she wrote. "But he didn't know how good he was and he was plagued with insecurities. He used to say he was jealous of me because music is more accessible and it reached more people. He loathed the idea that art was appreciated by an elite group When I heard that Jean-Michel had died, I was not surprised. He was too fragile for this world."

Jean-Michel Basquiat's paintings continue to influence modern-day artists and command high prices.

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