JEAN-MICHELLE BASQUIAT
“Self-portrait”, 1982

Died at only 26, after a frenzy life highlighted with his ferocious graffiti art works, his multiple drug addictions and his problematic friendship with the also polemical Andy Warhol, Basquiat established himself not only as one of the most important artists of the second half of the past century, but also as a tragic icon of the contemporary Art world

This brutal self-portrait is a quintessential example of Basquiat's ferocious and rabid style, inspired by multiple references, such as contemporary artists like Picasso or Pollock, the jazz music, and perhaps even the heroin abuse. The disturbing figure of the self-portrayed is closely related to those mysterious statuettes of idols from Ancient Africa