Saint Laurent Rive Droite is paying homage to American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in a new capsule collection and exhibition. The French label announced that it has worked with the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Galerie Enrico Navarra to curate a range of novelties and a showcase.
The Basquiat-centric exhibition will be held at Saint Laurent Rive Droite stores in Paris and Los Angeles until September. Visitors can expect to see some of the most sought-after pieces by Basquiat. This includes a silkscreen, 18 original lithographs, several drawings, ceramic plates that belonged to Andy Warhol, a spoon, and a denim jacket from one of the first actions held for the fight against AIDS.
Accompanying the exhibition is an eclectic range of lifestyle products which visitors can pick up as souvenirs. These are inspired by the works of Basquiat and elements of the artist’s artistic style appear on items such as tote bags, tops, cross-body bags and backpacks.
The star of the show will definitely be the skimboards and skateboard triptych, which are probably the most prized. Elsewhere, iPhone cases, books on the artist, posters and a limited edition range of Saint Laurent undergarments can also be found.
Anthony Vaccarello, the creative director of Saint Laurent, has proactively introduced new elements into the brand. His past collaborations include a capsule collection done with Italian design group Memphis and a surf collection named “Dawn Patrol” He has also worked with Helmut Lang for an exhibition.
While Basquiat has earned his reputation as a celebrated contemporary artist in the 1980s, a collaboration with the fashion world is not something new for him. He has modelled for Comme des Garçons in 1987 and was a fan of Issey Miyake’s tailoring. Basquiat cultivated a signature style that reflected both his Haitian heritage and that of Miyake’s — leather jackets and loose shirts were his go-to. The late American artist’s influence does not just stop at the higher rungs of fashion but throughout the industry, as seen in the autumn/winter 2020 collection by Coach and in Uniqlo UT’s New Tee collection.
The Saint Laurent Rive Droite x Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat x Galerie Enrico Navarra capsule collection is now available online here.