Jean-Michel Basquiat's popularity extends well beyond the art world these days. Thanks to rappers like Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz (who Jeffrey Deitch compared to Basquiat last year), more people are at least aware of the artist and have maybe Googled him once or twice.
Those who were familiar with his work prior to 2011 know Basquiat as a prolific artist during the 1970s and 80s, before his unfortunate death at the young age of 27; however, many still don't know everything there is to know about the enigma that was Jean-Michel.
In an attempt to change that, we have compiled this list of 20 Things You Didn't Know About Jean-Michel Basquiat.
RELATED: The Complete Guide To Jean-Michel Basquiat References In Hip-Hop
Jean-Michel Basquiat's popularity extends well beyond the art world these days. Thanks to rappers like Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz (who Jeffrey Deitch compared to Basquiat last year), more people are at least aware of the artist and have maybe Googled him once or twice.
Those who were familiar with his work prior to 2011 know Basquiat as a prolific artist during the 1970s and 80s, before his unfortunate death at the young age of 27; however, many still don't know everything there is to know about the enigma that was Jean-Michel.
In an attempt to change that, we have compiled this list of 20 Things You Didn't Know About Jean-Michel Basquiat.
RELATED: The Complete Guide To Jean-Michel Basquiat References In Hip-Hop
Basquiat had an affair with Madonna and the two eventually dated.
Basquiat had an affair with Madonna and the two eventually dated.
He lived with gallerist Larry Gagosian in Los Angeles for a year. Madonna also joined them for a few months.
He lived with gallerist Larry Gagosian in Los Angeles for a year. Madonna also joined them for a few months.
Basquiat produced a rap record with Fab Five Freddy and Rammellzee called "Beat Bop."
Basquiat produced a rap record with Fab Five Freddy and Rammellzee called "Beat Bop."
At the age of 6 he was already a Junior Member at his favorite museum, the Brooklyn Museum.
At the age of 6 he was already a Junior Member at his favorite museum, the Brooklyn Museum.
At 17, he left his home in Brooklyn for good to live in Lower Manhattan.
At 17, he left his home in Brooklyn for good to live in Lower Manhattan.
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He survived in Lower Manhattan by couch surfing, panhandling, drinking wine with winos, and eating 15-cent bags of Cheese Doodles.
He survived in Lower Manhattan by couch surfing, panhandling, drinking wine with winos, and eating 15-cent bags of Cheese Doodles.
He was hit by a car as a child and suffered a broken arm and internal injuries that could have killed him.
He was hit by a car as a child and suffered a broken arm and internal injuries that could have killed him.
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After the car accident, his mother gave him a copy of the medical book Gray's Anatomy, which later inspired the name of his band, Gray, and remained a major reference for a lot of his artwork.
After the car accident, his mother gave him a copy of the medical book Gray's Anatomy, which later inspired the name of his band, Gray, and remained a major reference for a lot of his artwork.
He played the clarinet and other instruments in Gray, despite not knowing how.
He played the clarinet and other instruments in Gray, despite not knowing how.
Critic Robert Hughes once called him the "Eddie Murphy of the art world," and said that the culture favored the "young, loud...invincibly dumb."
Critic Robert Hughes once called him the "Eddie Murphy of the art world," and said that the culture favored the "young, loud...invincibly dumb."
At 21, Jean-Michel was the youngest artist ever to show at Documenta in Kassel, Germany.
At 21, Jean-Michel was the youngest artist ever to show at Documenta in Kassel, Germany.
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The Museum of Modern Art and The Whitney both rejected submissions of his work.
In the early 80s, he didn't have a bank account. He kept his money around his loft on Crosby Street under rugs, in books, and under the couch.
In the early '80s, he didn't have a bank account. He kept his money around his loft on Crosby Street—under rugs, in books, and under the couch.
He threw a pie at his high school principal and never graduated.
He threw a pie at his high school principal and never graduated.
He was multilingual. Basquiat spoke and read English, Spanish, and French.
He was multilingual. Basquiat spoke and read English, Spanish, and French.
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