Five things we can learn from the life and Legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat would have celebrated his 58th birthday today, had he not succumbed to a heroin overdose in the height of his career as an artist. 30 years later and Basquiat’s popularity continues to rise, cementing his place in both art history and pop culture.

Since a teen, I’ve chased Basquiat’s work around the country– fascinated with its complex, raw and rebellious nature. A recent escape to Paris allowed me to vacate the political chaos in the states and take in Basquiat’s work in an unfamiliar land, appreciating all of its glory and angst. Viewing Basquiat’s work in Paris was especially sentimental because like Basquiat, many of my favorite black artists — James Baldwin, Josephine Baker and Ta-Nehisi Coates to name a few — sought artistic asylum in the city of love, away from the hate, racism and brutality in America. While unable to truly escape the cancer of American ills refueled by the current presidency, I felt for a moment at peace — basking in the presence and light of those before me who found pieces of themselves in the galleries, book shops and cafes throughout Paris.

Yet no amount of Parisian charm allowed me to overlook the paradox of the messages within Basquiat’s art and the commodification of his artistry today. Seeing over 120 pieces of his work spread across four floors of the Louis Vuitton Foundation was magnificent indeed, but the cognitive dissonance of a luxury fashion house aligning itself with an artist that shunned elitism and the “so called avant-garde,” left me a bit uneasy. Basquiat’s fear of being a gallery mascot — one who was lauded and celebrated for his popularity, while his art was sanitized and trivialized — echoed in my head. For it seemed that his fear of being paraded and dominated by those in power, was manifesting at a level far beyond what he may have ever imagined.

So while the popularization of Basquiat continues — marked by fashion houses, street wear brands and even makeup lines capitalizing on the artist’s legacy, I hope that we can begin to focus on the messages within his artwork. Hope that we can see beyond the fanfare and appropriation of Basquiat, and refocus our attention on the messages within his artwork that speak out against racism, classism and police brutality that still persists today.

There is so much we can learn from Jean-Michel Basquiat if we move beyond the superficialities and status associated with the artist today and dare to go deeper. Here’s five lessons from the life and legacy of Basquiat worth holding holding dear:

1.) Forget about technique, focus on your truth

“I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.” — Jean-Michel Basquiat

Despite creating some of the most complex paintings and becoming a major figure in the Neo-Expressionist movement, Basquiat never had any formal art training. He never went to art school or learned the formalities of art technique. Basquiat’s life is a reminder that while formal education can be beneficial, it is not necessary. One does not need to be taught to illustrate a message with canvas and colors, just like one does not need to graduate from grammar school to pen words that resonate. After all, what good is an artist so focused on technique, that (s)he fails to connect with those on the receiving end of the message? There is always room for growth and improvement, but Basquiat’s approach to his artistry serves as a reminder to prioritize your message and truth over societal expectations and credentials. Get started and let your art flow.

2.) Be generous with your art

Producing art is a selfless act, a risky investment that naturally provokes fear and uncertainty. Be generous anyway.

The work left behind by Basquiat is a testament that our artistry is our legacy, and it is worth our efforts. While Basquiat died young, he left behind 1500 drawings and over 500 paintings. Some grand and magnificent, some amateur and unfinished. The sheer volume of the art he left behind demonstrates his generous spirit. A generosity that we should all work to cultivate. Reflecting on Basquiat’s life and legacy is a reminder that putting our art into the world, does not come with assurance. It may not be met with praise and admiration. Producing art is a selfless act, a risky investment that naturally provokes fear and uncertainty. Be generous anyway. Our art, no matter the form, is always worth the investment; especially when it is rooted in a purpose much greater than ourselves.

3.) Let your purpose be greater than your desire for popularity

In an ideal world, we would all find communities that affirm and embrace our talents. As a young girl from modest beginnings, the elitist and exclusive nature of the art scene never felt particularly inviting. But as I began to learn about Basquiat and his relentless pursuit of self-expression, identity and purpose, I began to see reflections of myself in his paintings. Reflections that remind me to trust my purpose as a writer and overcomer who will inspire great change in the world. The desire for affirmation and recognition lives within all of us. Basquiat too sought the luxuries of popularity and widespread acceptance. But his life exemplifies that even if we don’t find such support initially, it’s important to remain grounded in our purpose and move forward in our destiny anyway. Recognition will come in due time.

4.) Believe in your greatness

The same galleries that proudly boast Basquiat’s art work today — from The Whitney Museum of American Art to The Museum of Modern Art — once rejected the artist’s work. The bold, erratic strokes of color across irregular canvasses didn’t quite fit within the confines of the modern-minimalism era Basquiat lived in. The rejection of his work was fueled by both its originality and racism, and its important that we acknowledge this when we speak of his legacy. Nonetheless, Basquiat’s audacity to continually show up for himself, despite rejection is worth noting. For we may be misunderstood, unheard or overlooked, but we’re worth remaining confident and committed to our dreams and abilities.

5.) Beware of self-sabotage

Not every battle is worth the fight. Rage, rejection and internal anguish may fuel our artwork, but we must not become a victim of these emotions.

Many of the documentaries featuring Basquiat showcase his deep-rooted paranoia of being used and exploited by people who were obsessed with his talent, yet indifferent to the anger and rage that fueled his artistry. As much as we romanticize passionate, creative types that self-destruct, it is also worth learning from their acts of self-sabotage. Basquiat anticipated both his early demise and commodification. The skeletal and deathly nature of Basquiat’s work produced near the end of his life served as a self-fulfilling prophecy. As someone who has been labeled overly sensitive and overly passionate, I’ve always seen myself in artists that self-destruct. I see the life of Basquiat as an omen to creative, sensitive types who are vulnerable to being consumed by the world around them. Basquiat legacy, while admirable, also serves as a warning to create and make space to find a deep, inner peace. Not every battle is worth the fight. Rage, rejection and internal anguish may fuel our artwork, but we must not become a victim of these emotions.