A Jean-Michel Basquiat musical is heading to Broadway

The late Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of the most innovative and influential artists of the 20th century and now his work is set to be depicted in a gritty broadway musical.

Tony Award winning Jon Doyle will direct the project alongside producers Alan D. Marks and Barbara Marks.

Composer of the project and musical director of The Late Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Jon Batiste, said: "I'm honoured to work with veteran storyteller John Doyle, the Marks and The Basquiat family."

Batiste added: "We have an opportunity to tell a truly profound story, full of emotional highs and lows, with unbelievable art at the centre. We are assembling a team to help craft a boundary pushing masterpiece inspired by a true American original."

Basquiat's sisters Lisane and Jeanine have admitted that many people have approached them about telling their brother's story but they are "thrilled with the possibilities" that Batiste and Doyle have up their sleeves.

Basquiat's work was well known for its bold colours and mixed media, used to embody humour, urbanism and danger, among other themes.

A swell in the popularity of Basquiat's work occurred after drug overdose lead to his death in 1988. His art then began to break records, with some pieces selling for over $100 million.

Check out Basquiat showcasing his skills on turntables here.