Jean-Michel Basquiat: A Voice of the Streets and a Master of Dichotomy Born in Brooklyn, New York City, on December 22, 1960, Jean-Michel Basquiat emerged from the vibrant, chaotic crucible of the Lower East Side during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His life was tragically cut short at the age of 27 in August 1988 due to a heroin overdose, but within those brief years, he left an indelible mark on the art world, becoming one of its most iconic and influential figures. Basquiat’s work wasn't simply painting; it was a raw, urgent expression of his experiences as a Black American navigating…