"I am not a black artist, I am an artist"

Jean-Michel Basquiat's quote "I am not a black artist, I am an artist" is a powerful statement that highlights the complexity of identity and how it converges with creative expression. As a black artist in a predominantly white art world, Basquiat dealt with both affection and criticism. Many saw him as a trailblazer, a voice for the marginalized, and a real representative of black imagination. However, Basquiat was much more than simply a black artist. He was a multi-dimensional artist whose work checked out a range of themes beyond race. Through this quote, Basquiat turned down the limiting label of a "black artist" and declared his identity as an artist first and foremost. It is a statement that strengthens the idea that art transcends race which artists must be evaluated on the benefit of their work.