King Pleasure

Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure – Exhibition Overview

Background

Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure© was a landmark exhibition offering an intimate look at the artist’s life and work through the lens of his family. Curated by The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat—led by his sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, along with their stepmother Nora Fitzpatrick—and produced by Ileen Gallagher, the show featured more than 200 artworks and personal objects, most of which had never been seen by the public. Named after one of Basquiat’s 1987 paintings, the exhibition was created to share his true story with authenticity and heart.

The idea first took shape in 2017, but the family sprung into action in 2020 amid social upheaval. “When the world was shut down and so many things were happening with George Floyd and the pandemic, we felt like that was a good time to pick this back up and get going” said Jeanine Heriveaux. By funding and producing the show themselves, the Basquiat family sought to own the narrative of the artist’s legacy—creating an exhibition driven by love, pride, and a mission to protect Jean-Michel’s story for posterity. This was the first exhibition curated by his own family to contextualize his journey—from his Brooklyn upbringing to meteoric rise—in a way only they could. “Jeanine and I really are the only two people who can tell this story,” Lisane says. “In some ways, it’s as much for us as it is for the public. It’s just a way of documenting this incredible character in our family.”

Curatorial Vision

Rather than a traditional gallery retrospective, King Pleasure© was designed as an immersive, narrative experience. The 15,000-square-foot suite of interconnected, wood-paneled rooms was created as way for visitors “walk through” different eras of Basquiat’s life. Each space corresponded to a chapter of his journey, filled not just with artwork but with the sights and sounds of his world.

Visitors began at “1960 – Introduction,” with a map of Basquiat’s New York and family home videos, then moved through environments like “Kings County,” about his Brooklyn childhood, “World Famous,” charting his early art stardom, and “Ideal,” a recreation of his Great Jones Street studio, complete with his paint-splattered books and bicycle. One room recreated the VIP lounge of the Palladium nightclub, displaying the two massive mural panels Basquiat painted in 1985.

Throughout the exhibit, personal artifacts—Basquiat’s notebooks, clothing, salvaged doors, toys, and heirlooms—were displayed alongside his artwork. The family even rebuilt parts of their Brooklyn living room inside the gallery. “We want this to be an experiential and multi-dimensional celebration of Jean-Michel’s life,” said Lisane Basquiat. The exhibit prioritized approachability, using friendly wall text and audio guides to make the experience welcoming to visitors who don't relate to traditional museums. The result was a deeply personal atmosphere that intertwined Basquiat’s art with his humanity.

Critical Reception

King Pleasure© opened in New York City in April 2022 at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea and later traveled to The Grand LA in downtown Los Angeles in 2023. It received widespread media coverage and critical acclaim. The New York Times described the experience as creating “an emotional impact that’s hard to shake.” Critics praised the familial perspective and rare access to previously unseen works.

Basquiat scholar Chaédria LaBouvier noted that “‘King Pleasure’ is a chance for the public to see many works that they wouldn’t otherwise get to see,” given that much of Basquiat’s work resides in private collections. Vogue described it as “disarming” in both scale and intimacy. The Los Angeles Times noted the importance of hosting it in a city that played a key role in Basquiat’s early exhibitions. Forbes felt the exhibition was “intimate at every step," and went on to say, “You feel like Basquiat is opening up to you personally with his art and artifacts.”

Acclaim and Family Reflections

King Pleasure© was a resounding success by all counts. The New York and Los Angeles exhibitions were extended multiple times and, together drew more than 300,000 visitors. The Basquiat family spent 18 months developing the exhibition, often processing their own grief and pride along the way. “What we’re able to do is provide context… for people to get a fuller understanding of who this man was on a personal level,” said Lisane. The show was entirely self-financed by the family, none of the art was available for purchase. As Lisane explained, “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.”

Impact and Legacy

King Pleasure© has reshaped how artist legacies can be presented. It proved that a family-led, emotionally honest exhibition can rival and even surpass traditional retrospectives. It also reaffirmed the appeal of immersive, multi-sensory experiences that don’t compromise artistic integrity.

The exhibition arrived at a time when Black artists were gaining long-overdue institutional recognition. By spotlighting Basquiat’s Black identity, Puerto Rican and Caribbean roots, and critiques of racial injustice, the show reinforced the relevance of his voice. His work—featuring jazz icons, boxers, saints, and anti-colonial symbols—spoke to power, survival, and liberation.

More than a retrospective, King Pleasure© redefined what an art exhibition could be. It peeled back the celebrity to reveal the son, the brother, the visionary. And in doing so, it created a new model for how truth, memory, and meaning can be preserved—not just in museums, but in the hands of those who knew the artist best.