Which artist did David Bowie portray in the 1996 film Basquiat?

Which artist did David Bowie portray in the 1996 film Basquiat? The answer is Andy Warhol. In Julian Schnabel's 1996 biographical drama, Bowie plays the influential American pop artist, while Jeffrey Wright portrays Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The film follows Basquiat's rise from a young New York artist with graffiti roots to an internationally recognised painter. Warhol appears as his friend, mentor and fellow figure in the downtown art world. The story is lightly fictionalised, so the movie should be understood as an artistic interpretation rather than a documentary reconstruction.

Bowie had met Warhol in real life, which helped him shape the role. For the production, he reportedly used some of Warhol's actual clothing and accessories, including a wig, glasses and jacket borrowed from the Andy Warhol Museum. Bowie’s performance is often remembered for capturing Warhol’s detached manner and distinctive appearance. A common mistake is selecting Basquiat, the film’s subject, rather than Warhol, the artist Bowie portrayed.