In recent years, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s works have repeatedly set auction records. This year, in a special auction at Christie’s Hong Kong, his work “Warrior” set a record for the highest price ever paid for a Western artwork in Asian auction history, selling for 320 million Hong Kong dollars. This genius artist is not only a pioneer in graffiti art but also the soul of 80s street art. Basquiat’s rebellious and uniquely powerful creations made him a focal point in the New York art scene at a young age. His romantic relationship with pop music icon Madonna, and his friendship with pop art master Andy Warhol, are all topics of fascination for later generations. However, setting aside the external narratives of his life, do you truly understand the charm of Basquiat through his works?
Earlier, Basquiat’s family announced that they will be holding a special exhibition titled “ Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure ” in April next year. The exhibition is curated by the Basquiat family themselves, including his sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, and renowned architect David Adjaye has been invited to handle the exhibition’s design. The exhibition will feature over 200 rare pieces provided by the Basquiat family, including paintings, sketches, multimedia works, and crafts. These collections are extremely rare, some of them being revealed to the public for the first time. His family expressed their hope that this exhibition will offer a new perspective for everyone to understand Basquiat.
His family pointed out that in fact, the exhibition began to brew from the 30th anniversary of Basquiat’s death in 2017. There have been many exhibitions showcasing Basquiat’s works in the past, but none have started from a family perspective. His life was short, even though he had made a name for himself in the New York art scene before his death, and his creative influence continues to this day. However, people still have only a partial understanding of his true face. Instead of getting to know this artist through a single aspect, it is better to glimpse Basquiat’s diverse facets through the eyes of his closest family members. His sister Jeanine expressed her hope that everyone would get to know Basquiat as a child, a man, a son, and a brother.
Basquiat is hailed as one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century. He doodled on canvases, paper, and everyday objects, creating works that exude a new expressionist style and street pop culture. His works combine elements such as heroic figures, emotional text, mysterious phrases, numbers, pictograms, advertising graphics, African historical allusions, African American popular culture, and simple drawings. His artistic creativity continues to influence to this day. Therefore, his artistic style is still highly respected by many brands today, and his remaining works repeatedly break auction records, making his influence immeasurable.
This exhibition, curated by his family, is like an intimate narrative journey, showcasing not only the artist’s groundbreaking career but also transmitting Basquiat’s charm and passionate art through the eyes and memories of his family to the public. It is definitely a rare opportunity for everyone to truly get to know this legendary artist. The exhibition will be held at the iconic Starrett Lehigh building in Chelsea on April 9, 2022, and is believed to once again ignite a wave of “Basquiat fever”!
Learn more: Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure
