Adrien Sauvage’s most recent black-and-white portrait series invokes the spirit of Jean-Michel Basquiat through those who knew him and collaborated with him. The campaign features the original members of Basquiat’s former band “Gray”, Nick Taylor and Michael Holman.
Inspired by Basquiat’s journey from the outskirts of society to the heart of the New York art scene, Basquiat’s life becomes a metaphor for aspiration and achievement. Through Sauvage’s parallels are drawn between Basquiat’s “heroic figures” and Sauvage’s own muses, captains and natives, exploring themes of identity and influence. As in previous projects, savage experiments with the confines of conventional tailoring.
Setting the scene for the designer Autumn/Winter 2013 collection while chasing Basquiat’s shadow through the streets of NYC. Both shot and styled by Monsieur Sauvage, “Gray” is irreverent and Playful with references to 1980s pop culture and the avant-garde offering a nuanced picture Basquiat’s artistic legacy.
