Basquiat Exhibition Surpasses 200,000 Visitors in Just Three Months Since Opening

Exhibition Runs Until January 31

The special exhibition "Jean-Michel Basquiat: Iconic Symbols Connecting Past and Future," featuring the works of the modern art master Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), has attracted over 200,000 visitors within just three months of its opening (201,289 as of December 22), continuing its strong popularity.

Interior view of the special exhibition "Jean-Michel Basquiat: Iconic Symbols Connecting Past and Future." Courtesy of Dongdaemun Design Plaza

This large-scale exhibition showcases more than 230 works, including around 70 paintings and drawings collected from nine countries around the world, as well as over 160 notebook pages being presented in Korea for the first time. The event garnered significant attention from the art community even before its opening. Actor Park Bogum participated as the audio guide narrator, further boosting public interest.

Positive reviews from visitors are spreading on social media, and visits by celebrities such as BTS RM have also become a hot topic. In response to the increasing number of visitors, the organizers have extended viewing hours on Fridays and Saturdays until 9 p.m., and have prepared discount promotions, winter vacation events, and limited-edition merchandise.

The exhibition was organized to commemorate the 60th anniversary of JoongAng Ilbo, with investment by Barunson E&A, hosted by Soom Project, and sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Korea. It runs until January 31 at Exhibition Hall 1 of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Museum.