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'''Jean-Michel Basquiat''' (1960–1988) created the valuable paintings in [[America]]n history, with two of his untitled works selling for $110.5 million and $26.4 million.  He was entirely self-taught and became internationally prominent while in his mid-20s.

'''Jean-Michel Basquiat''' (1960–1988) created the valuable paintings in [[America]]n history, with two of his untitled works selling for $110.5 million and $26.4 million.  He was entirely self-taught and became internationally prominent while in his mid-20s.

Basquiat single-handedly toppled [[elitism]] in the art world, rejuvenating it as a result and bringing it to a new generation of admirers.

Basquiat single-handedly toppled [[elitism]] in the art world, rejuvenating it as a result and bringing it to a new generation of admirers. He first participated in the art gallery circuit as a critic, not as a wannabe. His graffiti was done with others under the name "SAMO©", and it was critical of elitism in the art world:

Formerly homeless in [[New York City]], Basquiat was a [[graffiti]] artist who developed into an accomplished canvas painter as part of the emerging "Neo-Expressionism" school of art, which is seen by some as an extension of the Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s.  Basquiat voluntarily abandoned his graffiti work as he burst onto the scene of the art world.

Formerly homeless in [[New York City]], Basquiat was a [[graffiti]] artist who developed into an accomplished canvas painter as part of the emerging "Neo-Expressionism" school of art, which is seen by some as an extension of the Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s.  Basquiat voluntarily abandoned his graffiti work as he burst, first as a critic, onto the scene of the art world.

Basquiat's style consisted of a disarming simplicity, creating a unique style benefiting from the best of urban graffiti and his occasional mentor [[Andy Warhol]]'s pop art.  Basquiat was comfortable communicating political messages in his work, sometimes against institutions and [[colonialism]].

Basquiat's style consisted of a disarming simplicity, creating a unique style benefiting from the best of urban graffiti and his occasional mentor [[Andy Warhol]]'s pop art.  Basquiat was comfortable communicating political messages in his work, sometimes against institutions and [[colonialism]].