Created in collaboration with the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat and published by Flatiron Editions, this screen-printed edition of 60 is available exclusively through Pace Prints.

King Alphonso, originally composed by Basquiat using acrylic and charcoal on paper, is a reflexive historiographic proposition saturated with the artist's archetypal word-image expressionism.

The most identifiable element of the work, a three-point crown—an iconic, self-referential symbol for Basquiat—rests above an anomalous head set among unintelligible scribbles and emphatic sketches. The eponymous label written beneath this head, KING ALPHONSO, references the series of Spanish monarchs of the Iberian region, as a poignant expression of Basquiat’s contrived cultural heritage. King Alphonso XIII (r. 1886-1931), who was nicknamed “El Africano” for his support of the Africanist faction, was the last ruling monarch of Spain.

Basquiat invokes this controversial monarch to explore his recurring themes of race, power, and identity in a historical context. Expertly placing his crown atop the King’s head, Basquiat self-identifies with King Alphonso, configuring his own historical legacy, while simultaneously divulging his extensive historical prowess and stylistic proficiency.

The posthumous release of King Alphonso is stamped and signed by Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, the artist’s sisters and administrators of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.