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Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) was an American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. Basquiat first achieved notoriety in the late 1970s as part of the graffiti duo SAMO, who spray painted enigmatic messages over the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He used social commentary in his paintings as a tool for introspection and for identifying with his experiences in the black community, as well as attacks on power structures and systems of racism.
Wikipedia
For Basquiat, the boxer was a powerful motif, which represented triumph over racism and social injustice, and reflected Basquiat’s ability to intertwine black history, popular culture, and personal experience. In many ways, the boxer was a self-portrait for Basquiat that reflected his struggles in the predominantly white art world and desire “to be a star, not a gallery mascot.”
Artland.com
Look closely at the painting. Write down everything that you notice (colors, lines, shapes, images, etc.).
What image best represents how you see yourself? Draw it below.
What do you think about Basquiat’s style of painting? Do you think his paintings are worth millions of dollars? Why or why not?
jacob lawrence
jacob lawrence
Jacob Armstead Lawrence (September 7, 1917 – June 9, 2000) was an American painter known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. For his compositions, Lawrence found inspiration in everyday life in Harlem. He brought the African-American experience to life using blacks and browns juxtaposed with vivid colors.
Wikipedia
Jacob Lawrence, 1941 Bar and Grill
Lawrence, a northerner raised in New Jersey and New York, often used his art to explore race, equality, and justice. This artistic approach is called social realism. Here he exposes Jim Crow, the demeaning system of laws and practices that prevented Black Americans from participating with whites in various activities. This system began to appear during post–Civil War Reconstruction and persisted for more than a century before new legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, was enacted.
Smithsonian
The perspective of this painting is from the view of the bartender. What do you think the people on either side of the wall saw?
Reimagine this scene if the wall weren’t there. What would it look like? Draw your version.
Jacob Lawrence painted this after an experience he had visiting New Orleans. How do you think that experience made him feel?
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