Jean-Michel Basquiat Trivia Questions

Basquiat died of a heroin overdose in 1988 at 27. He is often grouped with other musicians and artists who died at that age, though it's a coincidence.

Basquiat had no formal art training. He was largely self-taught, learning from graffiti, museums, and his mother's encouragement. He never attended art school.

In 2017, 'Untitled' (1982) sold for $110.5 million at Sotheby’s, setting a record for an American artist at auction.

Basquiat and Madonna were a couple in 1982–83, when both were rising in the NYC art and music scenes. She later said he was her first love.

SAMO© was created by Basquiat and his friend Al Diaz, not Warhol. Warhol later became a collaborator and mentor, but wasn't involved in the graffiti tag.

His father, Gérard Basquiat, was an accountant. Jean-Michel grew up in Brooklyn in a middle-class home, contrary to the 'starving artist' stereotype.

Basquiat was deeply inspired by jazz and bebop. He listened to Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis while painting, mimicking their improvisation.

There's no evidence Basquiat ever skateboarded professionally. He was a graffiti artist and musician before painting, but not a skateboarder.