ASSOULINE Basquiat: The World of Jean-Michel

Paint-splattered canvases lean against downtown studio walls, music drifts through late-night lofts, and subway cars rumble beneath streets where a new visual language is taking shape. Basquiat: The World of Jean-Michel offers a layered portrait of the artist and the cultural moment that shaped him. Organized thematically, the book traces key threads of Basquiat’s practice; from Heads and the energy of New York City to silkscreens, collaborations with Andy Warhol, the Blue Ribbon series, and explorations of the body, Black identity, and mythological symbolism.

Rare archival photographs capture Basquiat in moments of creation, offering glimpses of works in progress alongside finished paintings, some of which have since been destroyed or lost to time. Personal handwritten notes from fellow visionaries such as Keith Haring and Robert Rauschenberg further illuminate the profound impact Basquiat had on the creative communities around him.

Created in collaboration with ColourThemes, an independent international art dealership, and having liaised with leading galleries and private collectors, many works are reproduced with exceptional fidelity to preserve their true color, texture, and intensity.

The hardcover, featuring Red Skull (1982) across its cover, transforms one of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s most arresting works into a bold, tactile entry point into his world. Encased in a minimalist clamshell inspired by the texture of a painter’s canvas, the book opens to reveal Basquiat’s universe. A compelling volume for art collectors, cultural historians, and admirers of contemporary culture alike, it brings together the many works and voices that continue to shape Basquiat’s legacy.