King Pleasure is a sprawling exhibition that centers Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life through rare artifacts from his estate.
It has welcomed over 160,000 visitors since opening in April at the Starritt-Lehigh Building in Chelsea.
The show was organized by Basquiat’s sisters Jeanine Heriveaux and Lisane Basquiat and features re-creations of the artist’s childhood home and his NYC apartment.
As of December 7, a ready-to-wear apparel and accessories collection interpreting the artist’s work, designed by nine fashion talents for the show’s Those Who Dress Better program in partnership with Black Fashion Fair.
Programming Director Anthony Konigbagbe told Artnet News,
The driving inspiration behind the Those Who Dress Better program was the estate’s desire to support these nine emerging fashion designers, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs.
Fashion was very important to Jean-Michel.”
Black Fashion Fair worked with the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat to curate New York-based Black designers on the rise. When “King Pleasure” opened Theophilo, Brandon Blackwood, Hanifa, Who Decides War, Johnny Nelson, Bed on Water, Advisry, Homage Year, and Head of State were invited to explore the exhibition, to get inspired by Basquiat’s persona, and select which artworks to interpret.
- Bed On Water, an interdisciplinary art house that also specializes in graphic design, photography, and art, envisioned the artist’s harsh lines as soft dresses, sometimes with billowing folds
- Johnny Nelson contorted metal and stones into rings, echoing Basquiat’s crown motif
- Keith Herron’s brand Advisry layered and printed a King Pleasure long-sleeve jersey, and printed jeans featuring Basquit’s Charles The First (1982)
Designs available for sale in the adjacent King Pleasure Emporium and on Black Fashion Fair’s website.
The King Pleasure exhibition ends January 1, 2023.
(via Artnet News)
