Basquiat Estate has announced a new collaboration with clothing brand Albino & Preto, known for its jiujitsu-inspired collections. The initiative expands on the commercial and cultural phenomenon revolving around the figure ofJean-MichelBasquiat (New York, 1960 - 1988)(read more about the artist here), one of the best-known artists of the 1980s New York scene, whose legacy continues to generate projects in a variety of fields, from fashion to visual arts.
As reported by Artnews, the collection available in a limited edition starting Sept. 10 on the brand’s website and launched in conjunction with New York Fashion Week, includes gi sets and nogi for practicing jiujitsu, as well as lifestyle apparel. The fabrics and prints incorporate some of Basquiat’s work, making recognizable traits and symbols that characterized the artist’s visual language. The influence of martial arts is not coincidental: the painter repeatedly included references to these disciplines in his work, as in the case of the term “Achilles,” used in jiujitsu to refer to a particular foot-blocking technique and taken up by the artist in his canvases.
The collaboration with Albino & Preto thus fits into a strategy on the part of the Basquiat Estate, which has activated several partnerships with the fashion world in recent years. In 2024, for example, it was the turn of the H&M chain, with which a clothing line inspired by the African American painter’s work was developed. In addition, the 2022 King Pleasure exhibition, curated by the artist’s sisters, had presented a framework for similar projects. The exhibition, which collected rarely seen works along with drawings and archival materials, included collaborations with several brands, including one with designers Ev Bravado and Téla D’Amore of the Who Decides War brand.
Basquiat’s relationship with urban culture remains an inescapable reference point. Active on the New York scene between the late 1970s and the 1980s, the artist knew how to fuse graphics, pictorial sign and writing into an instantly recognizable language, linked as much to the world of graffiti as to the debate on identity and social dynamics. Despite the brevity of his career, interrupted by his untimely death in 1988, Basquiat left a legacy that continues to influence the market and contemporary cultural production. In any case, the interest around his figure is also reflected in parallel projects that constantly bring him back into the cultural debate. A recent example is the reconversion of his former New York studio, now home to Atelier Jolie, an initiative launched by actress Angelina Jolie to promote the work of tailors and artisans from less represented backgrounds. In this sense, Basquiat continues to be a symbol capable of dialoguing with different languages and disciplines.
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| Basquiat Estate and Albino & Preto launch a collection that links art and martial arts |
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