Jean-Michel Basquiat: A Voice From the Streets and Beyond Jean-Michel Basquiat’s story is one of astonishing speed, meteoric rise, and tragic brevity—a testament to the raw energy and potent social commentary that defined his art. Born in Brooklyn in 1960 to Haitian and Puerto Rican parents, he was a product of New York City's vibrant, often turbulent, downtown scene. Unlike many artists groomed within formal institutions, Basquiat’s artistic journey began not in a studio but on the streets, as part of the graffiti duo SAMO – an acronym for “Same Old Story,” a defiant statement against the p…