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The Art Of Art And Art : Baasquiat's Art

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Although Basquiat’s mother Matilde was the driving force behind the artist at a young age, it was his life experiences which shaped his personality and in turn his artwork. The first shift in focus for Basquiat occurred in 1968 when he was struck by an automobile and injured. While recovering, his mother gifts him a copy of Gray’s Anatomy and here is where he takes special interest in anatomy which is later reflected in his pieces. At age 15, Basquiat runs away from home after his parents had been divorced and his mother was in and out of mental institutions. Basquiat led a life on the streets of New York, sleeping on park benches in Tompkins Square Park and eating what he could find. Around this time, in 1976, he and Al Diaz create a fictional character by the name of SAMO (Same Old Shit) and the two began to spread witty philosophical messages throughout the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The SAMO days begin to build a name for Basquiat and, along with his ingenious and suave personality, he slowly integrates in the art scene of New York. Basquiat’s capacity to distill his perception of the outside world down to their essence, and project them outward through his art is what defined his unique style. He was capable of digesting complex social issues such as racial injustice or religion and unlock a more basic truth through his simple, thought provoking pieces. One of Basquiat’s most iconic pieces, Irony of the Negro Policeman deals with criticism of his own race. Because

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