Bombay Sapphire Named Official Spirit Partner of Jean-Michel Basquiat Exhibition

Bombay Sapphire and the Basquiat Estate have announced a partnership, naming the premium gin as the official spirits partner of the Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure Exhibition.  

Bombay Sapphire will join the Basquiat Estate to celebrate its first family-run exhibit in New York City opening April 9 at the Starrett Lehigh Building, where more than 200 never-before-seen pieces and rarely shown paintings of the artist's work will be on display.  

To crown the partnership and exhibit, Bombay Sapphire will honor Basquiat's vision as an artist, starting with the official cocktail of the Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure Exhibition, "King Meets Queen." The drink is inspired by Basquiat's use of bold colors and sharp lines, featuring Bombay Sapphire gin complemented by pineapple puree, lemon juice, honey and tonic. 

For those unable to attend the exhibit but still wanting to experience Basquiat's oeuvre, Bombay Sapphire has also created a trio of collectible Bombay For Real special-edition cocktail kits on CocktailCourier.com that will launch once a month until July. As "for real" was a signature catchphrase Basquiat used to express enthusiasm, each 'Bombay For Real' kit will feature a cocktail recipe from a bartender, inspired by one of Basquiat's exclusive artworks at the exhibit. The kit will be accompanied by a notecard that showcases a photo of the original work and a quote from the bartender. 

Inspired by Basquiat's "Charles the First," bartender, Cyllan Hicks, from New York City created the "Birds of Paradise" kit. Moved by the warm colors, this cocktail comprises apricot and orange flavors, complemented by Bombay Sapphire, which will be available now through May 7. Andra "AJ" Johnson from D.C. created the "Basque in the Moonlight" (May 7-June 7), drawing from the artist's background, with a blend of tropical flavors. To round out the offering, bartender, Nigal Vann, from Chicago created the "Sprout in Pisces" kit (June 7-July 7), that evokes the painting's vibrant colors through herbaceous, spring flavors, inspired by Basquiat's work, "Untitled." 

"We are thrilled to announce this partnership with the Basquiat Estate to celebrate Jean-Michel Basquiat's new exhibition, as it upholds our longstanding history of supporting artistic visionaries and our mission to make the art world more accessible," says Jaime Keller, brand director, Bombay Sapphire North America. "Through this partnership, Bombay Sapphire aims to foster creative expression by supporting the Basquiat Estate in their efforts to unveil an unparalleled collection of never-before and rarely-seen artworks created by the legendary artist and sharing them with the world. We were moved to partner with Basquiat's family on the exhibition as it takes the legendary artist's work out of traditional white wall galleries, in favor of showcasing a more intimate side of the iconic artist's story. The exhibition offers Basquiat's biggest supporters and creatives from all over the globe a look into his life through his artworks and memorabilia including sketch books, early drawings and sculptures. Alongside supporting the exhibition, Bombay Sapphire will continue to champion Basquiat's legacy, through our limited-edition kits, signature cocktail and more. This builds on our brand's DNA and reputation for being the perfect canvas for creativity in cocktails and beyond." 

"It's an honor for us to work with Bombay Sapphire as a partner to help open the new Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure Exhibition in NYC,” say Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, Basquiat's sisters, who run the Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate, in a joint statement. “Their support and appreciation of diverse voices in the arts was important for us in bringing Jean-Michel's work to life in unexpected new ways and to a greater audience for those who can't attend the exhibit, such as the collectible kits. Together we hope to awaken creativity in people from all walks of life, which is what Jean-Michel endeavored to do in his own art."