The man was brilliant, a genius even. Those who met him were intrigued by his peculiarities. He made friends with the likes of Andy Warhol. But alas, despite his gifts, his shortcomings would vest him.

Basquiat originally began as a graffiti artist. As a young teenager he would spray paint SAMO or same ol’ sh*t as his signature. The idea of SAMO was meant as an end to politics, or bogus ideas. His images reflected the world as he saw it, and there wasn’t any sugar coating it.

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His painting life was brief (about seven years), but because of his unique, diverse style, his art now fetches in the millions.

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Basquiat, being very apt at art, left school in 1978 (quiting high school one year before graduation), to pursue his dreams. Before he was 20, his work became publicly exhibited. He had gone from graffiti artist to selling hand-painted post cards and shirts, to a bonified artist in less than 2 years. By the time he was 24, he had already had 23 one-man shows, and 43 group shows. An impressive feat for a man so young. His scribbly, colorful, and rough/edgy style was becoming beloved by many.

What made Basquiat so brilliant was his incorporation of images into a visual language that could be understood. In some ways his art was almost primitive and raw. But it was this rawness that reached the viewers.

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Despite it all, Basquiat would become ingulfed in that which he often painted about. He became involved in all the excesses of fame and materialism, and self-destruction. Having become addicted to heroin, Basquiat began a fast descent worrying friends with his erratic behavior. Like many famous and brilliant stars, Basquiat died at the age of 27. No more would his star shine.