Jean-Michel Basquiat
1960-1988, American Neo-Expressionist painter known for his raw, gestural style combining text, imagery, and African diaspora themes
The Persistence of Memory in a Digital Age, 1987
Acrylic, oil stick, and spray paint on canvas
Frenetic energy radiates from every inch of this canvas. Basquiat’s crown motifs collide with pixelated glyphs and crossed-out text, wrestling with identity and commodification. The drips feel urgent, almost desperate. A masterwork from his peak period.