Biography

American painter. Born in NYC. From an early age, his mother took him to museums regularly. In his mid-teens, he gained attention for his graffiti, for which he used the pseudonym SAMO. He encountered Andy Warhol, and they deepened a lifelong friendship through their creative collaborations. His first solo exhibition was held in Italy in 1981, and the following year, his first US solo exhibition was held. He was a fresh breeze in the 1980s art world, catapulting him to become the star painter representing the US at the time. He was the first successful black artist, but he suffered from racial discrimination, drastic changes in his environments, and creative struggles. He died of a drug overdose at the age of 27 in 1988.