Bold Colors and Big Ideas: Our Artists Explore Basquiat

Our art students recently spent time getting to know Jean-Michel Basquiat, the Brooklyn-born artist whose bold, expressive work changed the New York art scene in the 1980s. Basquiat filled his canvases with bright color, layered words, symbols, and his famous three-pointed crown, and he used art to tell stories about identity, history, and the world around him.

After learning about his life and studying several of his pieces, students created their own interpretations of his style. They experimented with strong lines, vivid colors, and personal symbols, and many added crowns of their own. Each piece shows a student taking a big idea and making it theirs.

We love seeing our students grow in confidence as artists, and this project gave them room to be bold, take creative risks, and share a bit of who they are. We're proud of the thoughtful, colorful work that came out of this lesson.

Take a look at some of their creations below!