In a daring move, Polaroid has intertwined its instantly recognizable signature with the potent visual lexicon of iconoclast artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in their latest collection. Drawing on Basquiat’s raw and unfiltered artistic endeavours, this collaboration is a celebratory ode to shared values of authenticity, impulsivity, and a love for the beautifully imperfect. Basquiat’s beauty-in-improvisation philosophy resonates harmoniously with the unpredictable essence of Polaroid snapshots – candid fragments of reality captured in their most untouched state.
The design of the Polaroid Now camera pays homage to Basquiat’s acclaimed masterpiece “Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump,” encapsulating Basquiat’s peak creative forces and igniting a desire in the new generation to incite change through disruptive art. This Basquiat series finds its place among Polaroid’s pantheon of extraordinary collaborations with legendary figures like Keith Haring and David Bowie. The iconic instant photography brand continues its mission to preserve cultural legacies while kindling a renaissance of creative expression.
“By celebrating Basquiat’s impact, we embrace his push for our creativity to delve deeper into authenticity and spontaneity. The essence of Basquiat has been immortalized in Polaroid film by luminaries like Andy Warhol and Maripol, stirring the inspiration for this collection,” states Oskar Smolokowski, Polaroid Chairman.
This exclusive collection showcases 10 variant frame designs available in packs of 8, each adorned with Basquiat’s unmistakable artworks and accompanied by a Polaroid Now camera, decked out in vivid hues.
The Basquiat Polaroid collection has been available since March 7th on Polaroid.com and at select retailers across the globe.
Polaroids by Sabrina Santiago, a photo-based artist living and working in New York. She explores the poetry of everyday life by capturing people in public and private spaces. Santiago uses photography as a way to bring the human community into conversation with itself and as a form of self-reflection. www.instagram.com/_sabrinasantiago
