How does Defacement (The Death of Michael Stewart) elucidate its abstract?
The Death of Michael Stewart, known as Defacement, is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1983. The artwork is Basquiat's response to anti-Black racism and police brutality. It memorializes the death of Michael Stewart at the hands of New York City Transit Police for allegedly writing graffiti in the subway. No graffiti was found, according to Stewart’s girlfriend at the time of his death, Suzanne.
New York City Transit Police Jean-Michel Basquiat death of Michael Stewart Death of Michael Stewart police brutality