As entrepreneurs, we are always looking for inspiration and motivation. Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat was a master at finding inspiration in the everyday and turning it into creative brilliance. Here are some of his best quotes on art, life, and success. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey, these quotes will inspire you to keep pushing forward towards your goals.
The best basquiat quotes
1. I am not a black artist, I am an artist.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
2. I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
3. The black person is the protagonist in most of my paintings. I realized that I didn’t see many paintings with black people in them.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
4. Most Young Kings Get Their Heads Cut Off.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
5. I want to make paintings that look as if they were made by a child.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
6. If you wanna talk about influence, man, then you’ve got to realize that influence is not influence. It’s simply someone’s idea going through my new mind.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
7. Some days I can’t get an idea, and I think, ‘Man, I’m just washed up, ‘ but it’s just a mood.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
8. I start a picture and I finish it.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
9. I was a cute kid.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
10. I had some money, I made the best paintings ever. I was completely reclusive, worked a lot, took a lot of drugs. I was awful to people.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
11. There are about 30 words around you all the time, like ‘thread’ or ‘exit.’–Jean — Michel Basquiat
12. If you wanna talk about influence, man, then you’ve got to realize that influence is not influence. It’s simply someone’s idea going through my new mind.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
13. Believe it or not, I can actually draw.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
14. Occasionally, when I get mad at a woman, I’ll do some great, awful painting about her.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
15. I start a picture and I finish it.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
16. I am not a black artist, I am an artist.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
17. If you wanna talk about influence, man, then you’ve got to realize that influence is not influence. It’s simply someone’s idea going through my new mind.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
18. The more I paint the more I like everything.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
19. I start a picture and I finish it.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
20. Some days I can’t get an idea, and I think, ‘Man, I’m just washed up, ‘ but it’s just a mood.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
21. The black person is the protagonist in most of my paintings. I realized that I didn’t see many paintings with black people in them.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
22. Occasionally, when I get mad at a woman, I’ll do some great, awful painting about her.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
23. My basic influence had probably been Peter Max.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
24. My basic influence had probably been Peter Max.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
25. The more I paint the more I like everything.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
26. There are about 30 words around you all the time, like ‘thread’ or ‘exit.’–Jean — Michel Basquiat
27. I had some money, I made the best paintings ever. I was completely reclusive, worked a lot, took a lot of drugs. I was awful to people.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
28. Fire will attract more attention than any other cry for help.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
29. Samo as an end to to mindwash religion, nowhere politics and bogus philosophy.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
30. I start a picture and I finish it.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
31. Fire will attract more attention than any other cry for help.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
32. My favorite Twombly is ‘Apollo and the Artist, ‘ with the big ‘Apollo’ written across it.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
33. I am not a black artist, I am an artist.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
34. I had some money, I made the best paintings ever. I was completely reclusive, worked a lot, took a lot of drugs. I was awful to people.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
35. I had very few friends. There was nobody I could trust. I left home when I was fifteen. I lived in Washington Square Park.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
36. I was a cute kid.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
37. I wanted to be a star, not a gallery mascot.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
38. I have a painting where somebody’s holding a chicken, and underneath the chicken is somebody’s head.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
39. I like kids’ work more than work by real artists any day.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
40. Believe it or not, I can actually draw.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
41. Believe it or not, I can actually draw.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
42. Some days I can’t get an idea, and I think, ‘Man, I’m just washed up, ‘ but it’s just a mood.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
43. I like kids’ work more than work by real artists any day.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
44. I start a picture and I finish it.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
45. There are about 30 words around you all the time, like ‘thread’ or ‘exit.’–Jean — Michel Basquiat
46. The black person is the protagonist in most of my paintings. I realized that I didn’t see many paintings with black people in them.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
47. I wanted to build up a name for myself.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
48. My favorite Twombly is ‘Apollo and the Artist, ‘ with the big ‘Apollo’ written across it.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
49. I don’t think about art when I’m working. I think about life.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
50. Believe it or not, I can actually draw.–Jean — Michel Basquiat
Conclusion
Basquiat’s influence is still felt in the art world today, and his work will continue to inspire generations to come. His quotes and his artwork are a testament to his talent, and to the impact he had on the art world. His words will always remind us of the importance of creativity and the beauty of art.