Starting Feb. 7, the writing’s on the wall at the Art Gallery of Ontario, which is hosting the first major Canadian exhibition of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work. The outspoken artist, who died in 1988, left a lasting impression on many designers, including fellow New Yorker Donna Karan. For her spring 2015 collection, Karan infused her fluid, feminine silhouettes with a dash of street cred, drawing on Basquiat’s iconic scribbled style and strong use of colour. Fashion brands Milly and Fendi also found beauty in the colourful chaos of Basquiat’s art, adding graffiti touches to a sweet summer dress and silky sweatpants. Offering a more subtle take on this arty look, Komono’s Curated collection features several of Basquiat’s prints on sleek watches, which is fitting, as it’s about time that this body of work was shown in Canada.
Neo-expressionism was an influence at Donna Karan’s spring 2015 show.
Lucien Pellat Finet cashmere sweater, $3,152 through www.farfetch.com.
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled from 1982.
Basquiat Bougie candle, $52 through www.ligneblancheparis.com.
Metalhead skull, $34.95 at CB2 (www.cb2.com).
Komono watch, $152 through www.komono.com.
Fendi appliqued silk crepe pants, $1,300 through www.net-a-porter.com.