Jean-Michel Basquiat’s paintings are electrifying collisions of colour, text and imagery, blending graffiti aesthetics with an intense, painterly energy. Working with acrylic, oilstick and spray paint, he layered bold marks, words and figures across his canvases, often incorporating references to African heritage, jazz, anatomy and history. His use of repeated symbols — such as crowns, skulls and serpents — imbued his work with a raw, poetic quality. Pieces like Untitled (1981) and Hollywood Africans (1983) exemplify his ability to merge street culture with high art, solidifying his legacy as a defining voice of contemporary painting.