Jean-Michel Basquiat: 80s Art Superstar

He was the star of the 1980s New York art scene, but was Jean-Michel Basquiat a truly great artist or the product of a booming art market? And why did one of his works sell for more than $110 million? Join Alastair and James as they explore the meteoric rise and tragic fall of one of the most distinctive artists of the 1980s. If you want to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode include: Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled, 1982 Acrylic, spray paint and oil stick on canvas, 183,2 × 173 × 4,8 cm © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s, Inc. 2025 Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled, 1982 Oilstick on paper, 75.9 x 56.5 cm. Private Collection. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Colour Themes. Jean-Michel Basquiat Mosquito Coil, 1982 Oilstick, graphite and charcoal on paper, 76.2 x 109.2 cm, Private Collection. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Colour Themes. The exhibition "Basquiat-Headstrong" is on at Louisiana, Denmark between 30 January - 17 May 2026. To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:19 Middle Class Brooklyn Beginnings 00:08:15 Car Accident and Grey's Anatomy 00:11:38 Family Breakdown and Teenage Rebellion 00:16:42 SAMO: The Birth of a Street Artist 00:15:45 New York in Crisis 00:24:01 Breakthrough: New York New Wave 00:34:15 The Breakthrough Year: 1982 00:37:37 Analyzing Untitled, 1982 00:44:05 Stardom: From Street to Celebrity 00:47:36 Warhol: Mentor, Friend, and Collaborator 00:53:45 Drugs and Decline 00:57:03 Death and Legacy