Jean-Michel Basquiat's notebooks provide an intimate glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. These notebooks, filled with sketches, poetry, and personal observations, reflect Basquiat's unique approach to art and his deep engagement with themes of race, class, and cultural identity.

Basquiat began using notebooks early in his career, often employing simple composition books with marbled covers and blue-lined pages. These notebooks served as both a creative outlet and a repository for his thoughts and ideas. The entries range from lists and phone numbers to more complex visual narratives, featuring his iconic imagery such as crowns, human figures, and cryptic text. This practice of juxtaposing words and images highlights Basquiat's ability to blend the verbal and the visual in a way that is both evocative and thought-provoking (High Museum of Art) (Pérez Art Museum Miami).

The exhibition "Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks," which has been showcased at institutions like the Brooklyn Museum and the Pérez Art Museum Miami, reveals over 160 pages from Basquiat's notebooks. These pages, displayed chronologically, include a variety of media such as ink, wax crayon, and oilstick on ruled notebook paper. The notebooks provide a detailed look at Basquiat's creative process, showing how he used repetition, wordplay, and visual symbolism to explore complex themes​ (Brooklyn Museum) (Pérez Art Museum Miami).

Basquiat's notebooks are notable for their spontaneity and raw energy. They often contain elements that appear in his larger works, serving as a bridge between his more informal sketches and his finished paintings. For instance, themes of racial identity and social justice are prevalent throughout his notebooks, echoing the motifs found in his larger canvases. The notebooks also demonstrate Basquiat's interest in various cultural references, from comic book characters to historical figures, reflecting his wide-ranging intellectual curiosity and his ability to synthesize diverse influences into a cohesive artistic vision (wallpaper.com)(Home | Cleveland Museum of Art).

Jean-Michel Basquiat's notebooks are a crucial aspect of his artistic legacy, offering valuable insights into his creative process and the thematic concerns that pervaded his work. They illustrate his innovative use of language and imagery, and his commitment to addressing pressing social issues through his art. The notebooks stand as testament to Basquiat's enduring influence on contemporary art (High Museum of Art) (Pérez Art Museum Miami) (Home | Cleveland Museum of Art).