Summary of Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Untitled (Skull)': Great Art Explained

00:00:00 - 00:15:00

Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Untitled (Skull)" is an iconic painting that is often interpreted as a symbol of black empowerment. Basquiat used the image of a skull to represent the history of slavery and oppression of black people, and to challenge the notions of race and power. Basquiat's use of color and references to art history make his paintings incredibly original and sophisticated. Despite his importance, there are almost no works by him in public collections.

• 00:00:00 Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Untitled (Skull)": a powerful and dazzling painting, which mixes text, color, symbolism, and mark making in a raw and uncensored explosion. In a single painting, Basquiat uses his instinctive powers of visual language to say everything he wants to say about America, about art, and about being black in both worlds. Basquiat's meteoric rise in the early 1980s sent shockwaves through downtown Manhattan, and in 1982 at the age of just 22 years old, he would produce this painting. Basquiat's painting would be placed in museums - designed for a whole different audience - and after its initial sale would not be seen in public for over 30 years. In 2017, it would come up for auction and when it did, it would be one of the most expensive paintings ever sold.
• 00:05:00 Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Untitled (Skull)" is an iconic painting that is often interpreted as a symbol of black empowerment. Basquiat used the image of a skull to represent the history of slavery and oppression of black people, and to challenge the notions of race and power. Basquiat's use of color and references to art history make his paintings incredibly original and sophisticated.
• 00:10:00 In this video, Jean-Michel Basquiat's artist biography is explained, focusing on his driving force - a desire to be accepted by the art world's elite. Basquiat struggled with racism and prejudice throughout his career, but he and fellow artist Warhol had a deep friendship. Basquiat's rise to fame was short-lived and he died from a heroin overdose just over a year after his break with Warhol.
• 00:15:00 Basquiat's raw and brutal works, which focus on the problems faced by African Americans in the United States, are as relevant now as they were 40 years ago. However, despite his importance, there are almost no works by him in public collections. The most expensive work of art by an American artist, Basquiat's "Untitled (Skull)" was sold for 110 million dollars in 2017. Basquiat's life was short and tragically cut short, but his art continues to cast a long shadow over the art world.