#FIRSTLOOK: TAGLIATELLA GALLERIES PRESENT JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT / EDITIONS EXHIBIT

Here’s an exciting exhibit coming to Toronto! Taglialatella Galleries presents Jean-Michel Basquiat /
Editions, a major exhibition celebrating twenty-five years of limited-edition prints released by
the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, opening May 28, 2026 at Taglialatella Galleries Toronto.
Free and open to the public, the exhibition offers Toronto audiences a rare opportunity to
experience one of the most influential artists of the modern era through a curated presentation
of iconic works spanning Basquiat’s career and legacy.

The exhibition brings together celebrated editioned works produced posthumously over the last
25 years by the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, including the newest release, King Alphonso,
1982/2025, unveiled in collaboration with Pace Prints and Flatiron Editions.
Based on Basquiat’s celebrated 1982 composition, King Alphonso is a limited-edition
screenprint of 60 that reflects the artist’s recurring exploration of power, identity, race, and
mythology through his unmistakable visual language. Each print is stamped, signed, and dated
on the verso by Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, sisters of the artist and administrators
of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

“Basquiat’s work continues to resonate across generations because it speaks to culture, identity,
power, and creativity in a way that still feels urgent today,” said Alan Ganev, Partner of
Taglialatella Galleries. “This exhibition is about making that legacy accessible. Toronto
audiences will have the opportunity to experience museum-calibre Basquiat works for free,
including one of the newest releases from the Estate.”

Born in New York City, Basquiat emerged from the downtown art scene of the late 1970s and
quickly became one of the defining voices of Neo-Expressionism. Combining graffiti, text,
drawing, and abstract painting, his work challenged social structures and addressed racism,
inequality, celebrity culture, and historical narratives through a visual language that remains
instantly recognizable today.

Taglialatella Galleries has long been a leader in the secondary market for Basquiat’s work,
particularly prints, through its blue-chip program and accessible curatorial approach. While
Basquiat’s original paintings now command prices in the tens of millions and are largely held in
museum and private collections, the gallery sees editioned works as an important entry point for
collectors and the broader public alike.

Highlighted Works
King Alphonso, 1982/2025
Making its Toronto debut, King Alphonso is the newest limited-edition release from the Estate of
Jean-Michel Basquiat, produced in collaboration with Pace Prints and Flatiron Editions. Limited
to just 60 editions worldwide, the work revisits Basquiat’s celebrated 1982 imagery through
themes of power, race, identity, and mythology, all anchored by the artist’s iconic crown motif.
The release generated immediate international attention following its unveiling in New York.

Flexible, 1984/2016
One of Basquiat’s most recognizable and celebrated figures, Flexible has become emblematic
of the artist’s late-period practice. The original 1984 painting achieved more than USD $45
million at auction at Phillips New York, while the editioned print has become one of the most
sought-after Basquiat screenprints on the secondary market.

Hollywood Africans in front of the Chinese Theater with Footprints of Movie Stars,
1983/2015
Stretching more than seven feet wide, this monumental work references Basquiat’s famed
Hollywood Africans painting, widely regarded as one of the artist’s most important examinations
of race, celebrity culture, and the experience of Black artists navigating mainstream media and
entertainment. Today, the original painting resides in the permanent collection of the Whitney
Museum of American Art.

Charles the First, 1982/2005
Among Basquiat’s most iconic works, Charles the First pays tribute to jazz legend Charlie
Parker while exploring genius, fame, exploitation, and Black cultural influence, recurring themes
throughout Basquiat’s practice. The original painting from Basquiat’s legendary 1982 period sold
for over USD $93 million at auction in 2022, reinforcing the artist’s position as one of the most
valuable contemporary artists in history.

Cabeza, 1982/2005
One of Basquiat’s most visually recognizable images, Cabeza captures the raw immediacy and
expressive intensity that helped define Neo-Expressionism in the early 1980s. Featuring
Basquiat’s signature skeletal head motif, the work has become emblematic of the artist’s
enduring visual language and influence across contemporary art, fashion, music, and design.

Phooey, 1982/2021
At more than seven feet wide, Phooey stands among the exhibition’s most ambitious and
visually commanding works. Rich with Basquiat’s layered symbolism, handwritten text, and
frenetic mark-making, the monumental print reflects the scale and energy of the artist’s most
celebrated paintings.

Exhibition Details
Jean-Michel Basquiat / Editions
Exhibition Dates: May 28 – June 11
Free Public Reception: May 28, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Taglialatella Galleries Toronto, 99 Yorkville Avenue