Jean-Michel Basquiat: A Life in Fragments Born in Harlem, New York City, in 1960 to a Haitian father and Puerto Rican mother, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life was one of rapid ascent and tragic brevity. His early years were marked by instability and the loss of his father at a young age – an event that profoundly shaped his artistic vision, fueling themes of identity, power, and social injustice. He began experimenting with art as a child, initially through graffiti, quickly mastering the techniques of tagging and creating elaborate pieces on subway cars throughout New York City. This street-lev…