Art Jean-Michel Basquiat Painting in Downtown NYC Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 — August 12, 1988), was an American artist. He began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s and evolved into a Neo-expressionist painter during the 1980s. This extract is part of the movie “Downtown 81 ” available online. All rights reserved to its legitimate owners. Share This Previous ArticleHow to Make Classic Baked Beans Next Article'THE REAL ROCKY': A Revealing Doc that Makes Blood Squirt on Your Screen April 11, 2013