Basquiat × Banksy

Basquiat × Banksy is an exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden that brings together two monumental paintings from different eras—Jean-Michel Basquiat's *Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump* (1982) and Banksy's response piece *Banksquiat. Boy and Dog in Stop and Search* (2018)—to explore the intersecting legacies of street art, contemporary practice, and popular culture. This marks the first time either artist has been shown at the Smithsonian’s national museum of modern and contemporary art. Beyond the central dialogue, the exhibition includes twenty small works on paper and wood by Basquiat (1979–1985) drawn from the collection of Larry Warsh, revealing the artist’s deep engagement with art history, language, and his signature motifs like skulls and crowns. Also on view is the film *Downtown 81* (shot 1980–1981, released 2000), a semi-autobiographical portrait of Manhattan’s 1980s avant-garde starring Basquiat himself.

Venue: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
Dates: September 29, 2025 – September 7, 2026
When: Museum hours; check Hirshhorn website for current schedule
Showtimes: Not applicable (gallery exhibition); film *Downtown 81* plays continuously within the exhibition space
Tickets: Admission is free; no ticket price listed; some special programs may require registration
Lineup: Works by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) and Banksy (anonymous); film *Downtown 81* (directed by Edo Bertoglio); accompanying public program featuring a lecture by Richard J. Powell, John Spencer Bassett Professor of Art and Art History at Duke University, on October 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the Hirshhorn’s Ring Auditorium
Run time: Not specified for the exhibition; the film *Downtown 81* runs approximately 70 minutes
Ages: All ages; content suitable for general audiences
Note: The exhibition is curated by Betsy Johnson, assistant curator at the Hirshhorn, and presented as part of the museum’s 50th-anniversary season with major support from Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst. The paintings on loan are a private collection piece by Basquiat and Banksy’s response work; the twenty small works are from the Larry Warsh collection. The museum also offers guided tours on select dates (e.g., “Guided Tour: On Basquiat & Influence” on July 24 and July 31, 2025, from 2:30–3:30 PM), separate from this exhibition.