Julian Schnabel American, b. 26/10/1951

Julian Schnabel, a Neo-Expressionist, with his controversial career and characteristic defiance, despises flatness in artwork. He often makes use from a wide sources of materials and unusual supports such as velvet, or cardboard onto which he heaps layers of paint. His strong sense of artistic creativity also led him to test other art forms: music, photography and filmmaking. Though he defines himself primarily as a painter, he has received international acclaim as a writer as well as film director of Basquiat, Before Night Falls, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly; also noted for his film productions.