Basquiat’s imagery now appears on everything from sneakers to tequila bottles and Barbie dolls. The deals have generated substantial licensing revenue for his Estate while introducing his work to millions of people and helping strengthen his appeal among a new generation of collectors.

In the 1990s, U2, David Bowie, Lars Ulrich, Gianni Versace, and other prominent creatives embraced Basquiat. Because their own reputations rested on originality and creative achievement, their support helped validate Basquiat as one of the defining creative figures of his generation.

Basquiat’s paintings are filled with crowns, words, anatomical fragments, Black figures, historical references, and visible revisions. Here is how to understand them by looking at his sources, methods, and artistic context without pretending that every symbol has a fixed meaning.

An interview with Basquiat’s uncle uncovered Jewish roots in his mother’s family, while the Israel Museum’s early embrace of the artist adds a remarkable historical coincidence.