Jean-Michel Basquiat didn't live long enough to see how his loose, abstract style would inspire artists to make a beautiful mess, nor did he get to see the awesome movie about him starring Jeffrey Wright.
But while he lived he saw damn near every side of life in NYC, from squatting in abandoned buildings with junkies to living the lush life with wealthy patrons in artists' lofts and penthouses.
Basquiat saw so much more than other young people, and his vision made him famous once he started sharing it with us all through his paintings.
These rare photos were taken by his girlfriend Alexis Adler in the East Village apartment they shared in 1979, at a time when young Basquiat was still free- free from fame, free from drugs, and free to really enjoy life.
See Rare Photos Of A Young Basquiat In His East Village Home here