Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art

In less than a decade, Jean-Michel Basquiat rose from tagging walls in New York City to commanding the spotlight of the global art world. Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art traces his electrifying journey through the turbulent, glamorized 1980s—a time of artistic revolution, celebrity excess, and racial exclusion.

A downtown icon, Basquiat moved seamlessly between street culture and high art, forming close ties with figures like Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Madonna. But behind the fame and fascination was a young Black artist navigating a predominantly white, often exploitative art industry. His brilliance burned fast and bright—ending in his tragic death at just 27.

Yet Basquiat’s legacy is anything but fleeting. His raw, layered works continue to resonate—socially, politically, and artistically—growing in influence and value year after year. In an era marked by movements like Black Lives Matter and demands for equity in the arts, Basquiat stands as both a trailblazer and a symbol.

Vivid and unflinching, this definitive biography captures not just Basquiat’s life, but the volatile world that shaped—and consumed—him. It’s the story of genius, commodification, and a cultural moment that never ended.

Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art includes 12-14 photographs.