Pérez Art Museum Miami to Host Rare Basquiat Exhibition Featuring Record $110.5 Million Painting
By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter
MIAMI — April 4, 2026, 10:30 AM PST
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) will open Basquiat: Figures, Signs, Symbols on June 25, 2026, presenting nearly a dozen works by Jean-Michel Basquiat from the collection of billionaire philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin. The exhibition unites some of the artist’s most iconic paintings and a sculpture for the first time, timed to coincide with Miami’s role as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The show features nine paintings and one sculpture drawn exclusively from Griffin’s holdings, including the headline-grabbing Untitled (1982)—the large skull painting that set Basquiat’s auction record at $110.5 million in 2017. Griffin acquired the work from Japanese collector Yusaku Maezawa in a private sale reportedly exceeding $200 million. Highlights also include Pez Dispenser (1984), a crowned dinosaur figure emblematic of Basquiat’s playful yet pointed symbolism.
Curated by Franklin Sirmans, PAMM’s Sandra and Tony Tamer Director, the exhibition builds on the museum’s 2016 presentation of Basquiat’s notebooks. It zeroes in on core elements of the artist’s practice: fractured figures, layered text and symbols, and masterful handling of color, form, and composition. “This focused selection allows visitors to engage deeply with Basquiat’s visual language and the historical and cultural influences that shaped his explosive career,” Sirmans stated in the museum’s announcement.
Basquiat, who rose from New York’s 1980s downtown scene to become one of the most influential artists of the late 20th century, died in 1988 at age 27. His work continues to command attention in both the market and institutional spheres, bridging street art, Neo-Expressionism, and incisive commentary on race, power, and consumerism. The Griffin loans underscore a broader trend of high-profile private collections entering public view, particularly as Basquiat’s market has matured with sustained demand for prime examples.
PAMM’s timing is strategic. With Miami welcoming global audiences for the World Cup, the exhibition positions the museum as a cultural destination amid major sporting events. It also aligns with PAMM’s 2026 programming, which includes sports-themed shows and reflections on American identity.
Market observers note Griffin’s significant investment in Basquiat, with reports suggesting hundreds of millions committed across multiple works. This concentration of top-tier pieces in one collection has implications for future availability and valuation in the secondary market. At the same time, the public display offers broader access beyond auction headlines, inviting fresh scholarly and public engagement with the artist’s legacy.
The exhibition runs through June 26, 2027, providing an extended window for visitors. It represents the most substantial Basquiat presentation in South Florida to date.
PAMM’s sleek waterfront architecture, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, will provide an evocative setting for these raw, energetic canvases.
Darren Smith is an Arts Reporter at Art Chain News covering contemporary art, digital art and NFTs, body art, and the intersections between these fields.
This article is based on exhibition/auction statements, direct reporting, and institutional analysis.
