A new Basquiat exhibit is opening in Miami this summer

The Pérez Art Museum Miami has announced a major new exhibit coming this summer. "Basquiat: Figures, Signs, Symbols" is a heavyweight show featuring some of the artist's most recognizable works, and it lands right as the city is set to welcome visitors from around the world for the FIFA World Cup. Opening on June 25, the exhibition brings together a group of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, many of which are more often seen in headlines than in person.

Drawn from the Kenneth C. Griffin Collection, the show gathers nine paintings and one sculpture, offering a focused look at Basquiat’s visual language. The exhibit will go beyond the standard presentation of iconic works, instead concentrating on the artist's themes and use of color, form and composition.

Standouts include Untitled (1982), featuring Basquiat’s recurring human head motif, and Pez Dispenser (1984), a sharp, slightly warped take on pop culture. In Italian (1983) layers references that jump between art history and autobiography, reflecting his engagement with the tradition of anatomical investigation during the Italian Renaissance.

Basquiat’s Caribbean heritage and his interest in race, power and history resonate in a city shaped by migration and layered identities. PAMM leans into that connection, framing the exhibition as more than a viewing experience. It’s an invitation to spend time, to look closely and to sit with the work beyond its auction prices or Instagram fame.

There’s also a rare video component featuring Basquiat himself, which adds a human counterpoint to the mythology. Hearing his voice creates a deeper connection with and understanding of the artist's work.

If you’ve only encountered Basquiat in reproductions, this is different. The scale, texture and energy of his works offer a completely different experience in person.