The following is excerpted from Basquiat: The World of Jean-Michel , which will be released by Assouline on May 11.  When we were invited to contribute a few words to this book, we realized that this is a project that goes beyond an overview or a specific aspect of Basquiat’s multifaceted art, executed in a few short years. Sixty-six years after his birth and 38 years after his premature death, his short but incredibly intense life had an impact on his generation and those that followed. Without his contribution we cannot imagine today’s art world. The development of globalization and digitalization—along with a growing cultural focus on distinct identities and exceptional individuals—has helped spread his influence well beyond the art world. Basquiat: The World of Jean-Michel (2026), published by Assouline. Photo courtesy of Assouline. Artists who become part of art history are pioneers, as they change our idea of what art should and could be and how it should be viewed.…