Jean-Michel Basquiat: A Voice of the Streets and a Revolutionary Artist Born in Brooklyn, New York City, on December 22, 1960, Jean-Michel Basquiat emerged from the vibrant, chaotic crucible of the late 1970s and early 1980s art scene. His life was tragically cut short at the age of 27 in August 1988 due to a heroin overdose, but during his brief career, he left an indelible mark on the world of art, becoming one of the most iconic fi…