jean-michel basquiat

was an American artist and the first painter of African descent to become an international art star.[1] He gained popularity first as a graffiti artist in New York City, and then as a successful 1980s-era Neo-expressionist artist. Basquiat's paintings continue to influence modern-day artists and sell for high prices

clip from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Michel_Basquiat#cite_note-0