Jean Michel Basquiat Collection Basquiat fans, don't miss this opportunity! Basquiat purchased in NY. A collection of works with a lot to see, spanning 272 pages. 〈Unreleased in Japan〉 Jean-Michel Basquiat (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ miʃɛl baskja], December 22, 1960 - August 12, 1988) was an American painter born in Brooklyn, New York City. He is known for his works with graffiti art motifs. The pronunciation of his last name is French, so the final "t" is not usually pronounced[1]. He was of Haitian-American descent.