Revealing Basquiat's Hidden Life: His Sisters Bring Intimate Exhibition To LA

Before his death in 1988 at just 27 years old, Jean-Michel Basquiat became a sensation, with a style born out of graffiti and the street culture of New York. His work was known for showcasing the Black experience, including class and racial divisions.

A new exhibition in downtown L.A., Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure, takes an inside look at the man and his work. That’s aided by access to the artist’s personal life — made possible because it’s presented by Basquiat’s estate, run by his sisters Jeanine Heriveaux and Lisane Basquiat.

The show features more than 200 items, ranging from paintings and drawings to multimedia work and other artifacts. It includes some articles that were never seen before the exhibition first opened in New York.