Basquiat Foundation stages 'King Pleasure' in unconventional spaces, bypassing museums

The Basquiat Foundation, led by Jean-Michel Basquiat's sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, has organized a non-linear retrospective titled 'King Pleasure' in non-traditional venues: the Landmark Starrett-Lehigh Building in New York and the Grand LA building in Los Angeles, where it runs until October 15, 2023. The exhibition features over 200 pieces including artworks and period objects, curated to immerse visitors in Basquiat's universe through reconstructions of his Brooklyn apartment and Great Jones Street studio. The title references a 1987 painting and a jazz singer nickname. The foundation's choice to bypass museums and collaborate with real estate developers marks a paradigm shift, challenging traditional gallery and museum structures. The show highlights Basquiat's enduring relevance on themes like colonialism, post-colonialism, racial inequality, police brutality, and capitalism's dark side. The family's protective curation and non-linear layout create an intriguing path, though it raises questions about whether market value or the art itself will dominate discourse.