DC INTRODUCES A SPECIAL COLLECTION CELEBRATING JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

ARTFASHION

Aug 7

In partnership with Artestar and the late artist’s estate, the collection includes brand new footwear and apparel that focuses entirely on Basquiat’s groundbreaking work from 1982, when he was just 21 years old. Born in the streets, graffiti and skateboarding have always been closely linked with each other and to the counterculture of the ‘80s. The DC collaboration is a fitting tribute to Basquiat’s journey from street artist to one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

DC MANUAL HI - One Shoe. 21 Paintings. — **DC MANUAL HI** - One Shoe. 21 Paintings.

DC pays homage to Basquiat by featuring his 1982 artwork on some of their best-selling styles, a rule-breaking, unapologetic celebration of colour and expression that collides across footwear and apparel.

The expressive faces and skulls found throughout Basquiat’s work are bold statements of character and perspective. The sheer diversity of forms, colours and emotions find synergy with the creativity and camaraderie found at DC and skate culture.

Basquiat’s work was often visually chaotic, exploring themes of power and violence while juxtaposing colour, form and pattern. DC noticed that a substantial amount of his 1982 works utilised earthy tones and military hues not as widely celebrated. For this collaboration, DC wanted to utilise select Basquiat works to tag, disrupt and humanise a selection of camo and fatigue-coloured DC pieces. Channelling their inner-SAMO across footwear styles Manual Hi and Lynx Zero. The all-new Manual Hi features an upper print featuring 21 different pieces of Basquiat’s 1982 art.

Like Basquiat, DC knows the pain of accidents and collisions. Their skateboarders break bones and bleed to land their next trick. DC extracted bones and X-ray related symbols used in Basquiat’s 1982 world and turned them into a bold, sophisticated repeated pattern in black, white and grey which can be found across tees and footwear including the Villian 2 and the CT Graffik styles.

SHOE: DC BASQUIAT HYBRID — SHOE: **DC BASQUIAT HYBRID**

DC have also taken a step further with the Basquiat Hybrid, a never-seen-before mashup shoe that combines two game-changing Heritage styles—the Lynx OG and Legacy OG. To round it all off, the collection also includes three skateboard decks.