Jean-Michel Basquiat changed art forever. His paintings explode with color, energy, and emotion. He used symbols, words, and figures to express deep thoughts about identity, power, and culture. Let’s dive into five of his most famous works and see what makes them timeless.
1. Untitled (Skull), 1981
This painting is pure energy. Untitled (Skull) shows a large, almost glowing head. It’s not a clean, realistic skull—it’s messy, fragmented, and raw. Bright reds, yellows, and blues clash with darker tones. The result feels alive, not dead.
Acrylic and Oil Stick on Canvas
81 x 69 1/4 in.
Basquiat painted the skull as a symbol of both life and death. You can feel the chaos of thought and emotion. The face seems to open up, showing what’s happening inside. Some parts look mechanical, others human. It’s a perfect example of Basquiat’s mix of anatomy, graffiti, and philosophy.
The background feels electric. Layers of paint build tension, then reveal bursts of energy. You can see his quick brushstrokes and scribbled lines. It’s almost like watching his thoughts appear in real time.
This piece was painted when he was just 21, yet it carries the intensity of a lifetime. It’s often seen as a self-portrait, showing the complexity inside his own mind. The skull doesn’t just represent death—it shows life under pressure, burning with creativity.
2. Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump, 1982
This painting feels like a summer memory turned into chaos and color. Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump shows a figure, possibly Basquiat himself, standing with a dog under the spray of a fire hydrant in New York City. The energy is playful yet frantic.
Acrylic, Crayon and Spray Paint on Canvas
94 1/2 x 165 1/2 in.
The colors burst across the canvas. Reds, oranges, and yellows suggest heat and movement. Lines cross and collide, showing the noise and rhythm of the city. You can almost hear the sounds of children laughing and the hiss of water hitting pavement.
The figure stands strong and upright, surrounded by wild motion. It captures both joy and tension. Basquiat loved showing opposites—freedom and struggle, beauty and pain, life and decay.
Critics see this painting as a celebration of urban life, but also a comment on survival. The hydrant, the “johnnypump,” becomes a symbol of relief in the hot city. The dog represents loyalty and instinct. The boy, meanwhile, stands for innocence caught in chaos.
Everything in the painting moves. Nothing is calm. That’s what makes it unforgettable.
3. Untitled, 1981 (Black Warrior Figure)
Another Untitled from 1981 shows Basquiat’s signature warrior figure. It’s one of his recurring themes—a strong, almost mythic black man standing with power. The figure has a crown, a weapon, and wide eyes. He’s fierce, proud, and defiant.
Acrylic, Oil Stick and Spray Paint on Wood Panel
72 x 48 in.
This piece shows how Basquiat rewrote art history. He placed Black figures in positions of power, something rare in the Western art canon. He took control of how Black identity was represented. The warrior stands tall against centuries of exclusion.
The painting style is rough, fast, and bold. You see drips, scratches, and layers that feel spontaneous. Yet, every mark has purpose. The background buzzes with words, numbers, and crossed-out phrases. These add texture and mystery.
It’s not just a portrait—it’s a statement. Basquiat fought with his paintbrush. His warriors carried messages about history, strength, and resilience. Through them, he built his own mythology, one that still inspires artists today.
4. Hollywood Africans, 1983
This is one of Basquiat’s most powerful works. Hollywood Africans shows three figures, including Basquiat himself, Toxic, and Rammellzee—two of his artist friends. The trio stands against a bright yellow background covered in text. Words like “Gangster,” “Hero,” and “Sugar Cane” float around them.
Acrylic and Oil Stick on Canvas
84 x 84 in.
Basquiat uses these words like weapons. They highlight how Black people were stereotyped in the entertainment industry. He mixes humor with anger. The piece asks: Who gets to be seen, and how are they portrayed?
Each word and symbol connects to a bigger idea. Basquiat points to Hollywood’s racism but also celebrates Black creativity. His text becomes both poetry and protest.
The yellow background glows like a billboard. The figures seem trapped in it, like characters in a movie poster. Yet, their expressions and posture say something different—they see through the illusion.
It’s colorful, layered, and emotional. The mix of pop culture and social commentary makes it timeless. Basquiat’s ability to balance style and substance shines here.
5. Irony of Negro Policeman, 1981
This painting hits hard. Irony of Negro Policeman shows a dark, boxy figure wearing a police cap. The figure looks trapped, boxed in by heavy lines. The words “IRONY OF NEGRO POLICEMAN” appear at the top.
Acrylic and Oil Stick on Wood Panel
48 x 72 in.
Basquiat used irony as a sharp tool. The painting comments on identity, control, and oppression. He saw the police as a symbol of power—but also contradiction. A Black policeman enforcing rules from a system that oppressed Black people created deep conflict.
The figure’s face seems masked or confined. It’s as if the person lost individuality inside the uniform. The colors—black, white, gray, and red—add intensity. The style is stripped down but direct.
Basquiat’s graffiti roots show here. His text feels raw and confrontational. He wanted the viewer to feel uncomfortable, to question assumptions. Even the misspellings and crossed-out words have meaning—they show resistance against order and authority.
This painting remains one of his most political and thought-provoking works. It shows how he turned visual art into social dialogue.
The Energy Connection: Basquiat and McNulty
Now, let’s talk about the painting Basquiat by Shawn McNulty. This vibrant abstract piece, which is also available as a fine art print, feels like a modern echo of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s spirit. McNulty’s painting uses bold color and raw texture to capture motion, chaos, and rhythm—qualities Basquiat made famous.
In McNulty’s Basquiat, color drives emotion. Reds, yellows, blues, and earthy tones collide and overlap. The painting hums with life. You can sense quick movements and impulsive marks, just like in Basquiat’s own canvases. Yet McNulty isn’t copying—he’s channeling that same creative pulse.
Acrylic and Pumice on Canvas
24 x 24 in.
The composition feels alive, like a visual jazz solo. Each section interacts with the others, yet nothing feels forced. This balance between control and spontaneity is what connects both artists. Basquiat painted with instinct and urgency. McNulty does too, in his own distinct voice.
There’s also a shared emotional energy. Basquiat’s art came from inner tension, curiosity, and rebellion. McNulty’s abstract forms seem to vibrate with similar passion. Both artists transform raw feeling into visual rhythm. Their work pulls you in and keeps you searching for meaning beneath the surface.
Even though McNulty’s Basquiat doesn’t show figures or words, it carries a familiar emotional weight. You can feel the pulse of New York, the intensity of creation, and the rush of color that Basquiat loved. It’s like the essence of Basquiat’s fire—distilled into pure abstraction.
In a way, McNulty’s Basquiat isn’t just inspired by Jean-Michel’s style. It’s a tribute to his energy—the boldness to express without hesitation, the freedom to create from the gut, and the belief that art should always stay alive.
Final Thoughts
Jean-Michel Basquiat painted like a storm. His art broke rules, mixed worlds, and spoke truth. From the haunting skulls of Untitled to the blazing yellow of Hollywood Africans, his paintings still feel fresh and urgent. He turned graffiti into fine art, then tore down what “fine art” meant.
And in today’s art world, that energy still moves through new artists. Shawn McNulty’s Basquiat proves it. The painting celebrates color, chaos, and creativity—the same qualities that made Jean-Michel legendary. It reminds us that art isn’t just about what we see—it’s about what we feel.
Basquiat once said, “I don’t think about art when I’m working. I try to think about life.” Both he and McNulty paint life—raw, colorful, and full of motion. That’s why Basquiat’s influence still burns bright, inspiring every artist who dares to paint with honesty and fire.