Jean Michel Basquiat was one of the best-known icons of 20th-century Neo-Expressionism. Throughout his tragically short lifespan, Basquiat managed to collaborate with Andy Warhol and other iconic art figures of his time. He also left an enduring legacy of bold, complex artworks with multiple layers of symbolic meaning, reflecting the most pressing concerns of his personal self-exploration journey and the socio-cultural and political fabric of his environment. The artist’s works are rich in symbols, and this article explores the ‘Basquiat dinosaur’ meaning as one of the most mysterious and poorly understood visual elements of his art.

Basquiat’s Paintings with a Dinosaur

Basquiat used the image of a dinosaur, specifically that of T-rex, in his paintings. The child toy-like dinosaur is reminiscent of a Pez sweet dispenser, an iconic image of the US consumer culture of the 1980s. The best-known works with this symbol include Pez Dispenser (1984) and Untitled (1982). The first work features a crowned dinosaur, while the second is a mixed-media piece containing the image of the dinosaur’s skeleton at its center. Both artworks are created in vibrant colors and bold, expressive lines typical for Basquiat’s visual style. The dinosaur also appears in Basquiat’s Snakeman (1983).

‘Basquiat Dinosaur’ Meaning

Since Basquiat included powerful socio-political messages in his artworks, the symbol of the dinosaur also comes with multiple layers of meaning, remaining one of the most mysterious and poorly understood at the same time. The majority of art experts agree that the ‘Basquiat dinosaur’ meaning is mostly related to the artist’s exploration of the disastrous impacts of consumer culture and capitalism. Others suggest that Basquiat visualized humanity’s evolution from prehistoric times and contemplated the lasting legacy of humankind with this image.

Signature Symbols in Basquiat’s Visual Language

Besides dinosaurs, Basquiat’s works are densely packed with symbols and thought-provoking images. These include the crown, which is associated with Basquiat’s tribute to Andy Warhol’s role in his career, the artist’s ambition to become the ‘king’ of art, and a crown of thorns as a symbol of his personal struggles. Other popular symbols are a griot (a traditional West African musician) and Ishtar (the Mesopotamian goddess of war and love).

It is also worth mentioning the warrior image that Basquiat painted as a self-portrait, which represents a deeply symbolic fusion of African, European, and American art elements and an iconic representation of the artist’s unique contribution to contemporary art. Yet, each of these assumptions is nothing more than guesswork, and each fan of Basquiat’s creative legacy can devise their own interpretations of his symbolism.