Our Friend, Jean Returns to Brooklyn After HBCU Tour

The Bishop Gallery in Brooklyn will unveil 'Our Friend, Jean', an exhibition showcasing early works and memorabilia of Jean-Michel Basquiat, starting on May 16, 2026. Curated by Erwin John and Stevenson Dunn Jr., the exhibit primarily features items from the collection of Alexis Adler, Basquiat's former roommate and partner from 1979 to 1980, along with contributions from Jane Diaz, Katie Taylor, and Hilary Jaeger. Initially presented in 2019 at the gallery's former location on Bedford Avenue, the exhibition toured six historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from 2022 to 2024, including Hampton University and Howard University, attracting 10,000 visitors—a first for Basquiat's art. Now relocated to the first floor of the Pfizer Building in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the exhibit will continue until the end of 2026, coinciding with the soft launch of the Bishop Arts & Research Center (BARC), aimed at enhancing access to Adler's archive and HBCU collections for research. The gallery's co-founders emphasized the importance of sharing Basquiat's narrative in his hometown, told by Black Brooklynite gallerists familiar with his heritage. BARC will feature rotating curations from HBCU collections and act as a community hub for discussions and access to archival resources.