Visual arts activity
Artist Spotlight: Jean-Michel Basquiat
Look at Basquiat's energetic crown paintings. Draw your own crown and scribble-words around it.
Materials and setup
- internet or book with Basquiat images
- paper (large if possible)
- paint, markers, crayons
Parent note
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) is widely documented. Haitian-Puerto Rican American Neo-Expressionist, began as SAMO street artist in NYC. Note: a couple of his works contain mature content — pre-screen images.
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Look at Basquiat's energetic crown paintings. Draw your own crown and scribble-words around it.
Steps
- Look at a Basquiat crown painting.
- Draw a big crown on your paper.
- Add scribble-lines and shapes around it.
- Write your name really big somewhere.
- Use bold colors.
Learning objectives
- Observe a famous recurring symbol (crown)
- Try energetic mark-making
- Include words in art
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Study Basquiat. Make a painting that mixes drawings, words, and a crown symbol.
Steps
- Look at 2 Basquiat paintings together.
- Notice: drawings, words, symbols, and bright colors all mixed.
- Pick a subject you care about.
- Draw it with paint or crayon.
- Add words, a crown, and scribbles around it.
Learning objectives
- Combine image, word, and symbol
- Use loose, energetic marks
- Reference a real artist's visual language
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Learn about Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), an American artist who started in street art. Create a piece that layers drawing, text, and symbols.
Steps
- Read a short bio: Basquiat was a New York artist (1960-1988) of Haitian and Puerto Rican heritage. He started making street art as 'SAMO' and became one of the most famous painters of the 1980s. His crown symbol represents kings, heroes, and people he admired.
- Study 3 of his paintings.
- Pick a hero or someone you admire.
- Create a painting or drawing with their name, a crown, symbols, and bold color.
- Let it look energetic and unpolished — that's the style.
Learning objectives
- Learn Basquiat's biography and context
- Understand the crown as a symbol of honor
- Embrace raw, expressive mark-making
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Deep study: Basquiat's background, SAMO street art roots, Neo-Expressionism, and his use of text/symbol. Create a tribute piece with a written analysis.
Steps
- Research Basquiat (1960-1988). Key facts: American Neo-Expressionist, Haitian-Puerto Rican heritage, began as street artist 'SAMO' in late 1970s NYC, collaborated with Andy Warhol, made work that addressed race, power, and history.
- Study 5 of his paintings and read one quote of his (easily found in any documented art history source).
- Plan a tribute piece: pick a subject that means something to you — a hero, an issue, or a piece of your history.
- Paint with layered drawing, text, symbols, and bold color. Include a crown.
- Write a 1-paragraph analysis: what did you borrow from Basquiat, and what message is your piece communicating?
Learning objectives
- Understand Neo-Expressionism as a documented movement
- Learn Basquiat's biography accurately
- Apply Basquiat's layered visual language
- Write analytical art history
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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