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Immersive Basquiat Exhibition Reveals 177 Works That Have Never Been on Display

Basquiat Exhibition

“Jawbone of an Ass,” 1982 © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat Licensed by Artestar, New York

The late great artist Jean-Michel Basquiat has a new show opening in New York City. Organized by the artist’s family, the exhibition is titled Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure and is on view at Starrett Lehigh Building in Chelsea. It offers visitors an intimate look at the pioneering creative, as his family shares their collection for the first time. Doing so ultimately provides the foundation for Basquiat’s later works before his untimely death at the age of 27.

King Pleasure features over 200 works and artifacts from his estate’s collection, and a staggering 177 of those pieces have never been exhibited before. The show provides additional context for Basquiat’s artwork and includes interviews with his family and childhood friends as they recall growing up with him in New York and briefly in Puerto Rico.

Moving through the show, Basquiat’s pieces are mostly displayed in a chronological format. Pages of his sketchbooks, drawings, and personal notes are just part of what’s exhibited. Additionally, viewers can listen to the music that the artist played if they scan a Spotify code and access a special playlist. It's all set against different backdrops designed by architect Sir David Adjaye; Basquiat’s studio has been recreated as well as the Palladium, a club that the artist and his friends liked to visit. What results is a rich look at a life cut short.

Basquiat’s sisters, Jeanine and Lisane, hold an important place in this exhibition. They are two Black women from outside the art establishment in charge of this important and valuable collection.

“This is a way for us to collaborate as a community and fill in the spaces from all of our perspectives on Jean-Michel and his impact on the world. It’s a gift to our family and others that they can look at this personal account of who he was,” Lisane explains. “We wanted to bring his work and personality forward, in a way only we can, for people to immerse themselves in. We want this to be an experiential and multi-dimensional celebration of Jean-Michel's life.”

Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure is now available to view. Head to the exhibition’s website to get your tickets.

The late great artist Jean-Michel Basquiat has a new show opening in New York City titled Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure.

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

The show is organized with the help of Jeanine and Lisane, Basquiat's sisters.

Basquiat Sisters Jeanine and Lisane

Jeanine and Lisane (Photo: Miranda Penn Turin)

It features over 200 works and artifacts from his estate’s collection, and a staggering 177 of those pieces have never been exhibited before.

Basquiat Exhibition

“Untitled (100 Yen),” 1982 © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat Licensed by Artestar, New York

Basquiat Exhibition

“Untitled (Thor),” 1982 © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat Licensed by Artestar, New York

Basquiat Exhibition

“Untitled (World Famous Vol. 1. Thesis),” 1983. © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat

Moving through the show, Basquiat’s pieces are mostly displayed in a chronological format.

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Pages of his sketchbooks, drawings, and personal notes are just part of what’s exhibited.

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat’s studio has been recreated as well as the Palladium, a club that the artist and his friends liked to visit.

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

What results is a rich look at a life cut short.

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Basquiat Exhibition in New York City

Photo: Ivane Katamashvili

Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure : Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by David Elkin.

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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