If South Korea is on your 2025 travel (bucket) list, make space in your itinerary for something big: the Jean-Michel Basquiat Exhibition at DDP, Seoul.
From September 22, 2025, to January 31, 2026, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), dubbed as Seoul’s futuristic cultural hub, will host an immersive exhibition, “Basquiat: Signs. Connecting the Past and The Future,” dedicated to one of the world’s most influential artists of the 20th century.
Whether you’re a Basquiat fan, art enthusiast, or just someone casually browsing for something unforgettable to add to your Seoul trip, this exhibition belongs on your must-see list. Here’s why.
But First, Who Was Jean‑Michel Basquiat?
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1960, Basquiat rose from the streets of Manhattan and became one of the most iconic neo-expressionist figures of the 20th century. He painted over 1,000 works and 2,000 drawings in just under a decade before his untimely death in 1988. His art, infused with raw energy, symbolism, and social commentary, continues to resonate with a new generation to this day.
What set Basquiat apart was the way he combined chaos and clarity into his artwork. Layering graffiti, poetry, anatomy, and history into paintings that felt urgent, electric, and alive, he turned his canvases into explosions of thought, emotion, and identity. The spaces that were filled with crowned Black heroes, skeletal figures, cryptic symbols, and scratched-out words were too raw and unapologetic to ignore. His works, such as Hollywood Africans, provoke rather than just hanging on the wall.
What Can We Expect at the Exhibition in DDP?
Titled “Basquiat: Signs. Connecting the Past and The Future,” the exhibition at DDP’s sleek underground galleries will run from September 22, 2025, to January 31, 2026. You can expect to see some rarely seen paintings, drawings, and other works highlighting his collaborations with Andy Warhol, which is something that Korean audiences haven’t seen in previous shows. This immersive exhibit also builds upon the 2020 Lotte Museum show, “Royalty, Heroism and the Streets,” by featuring Basquiat’s worldwide influences and multimedia legacy.
What Sets This Year’s Jean‑Michel Basquiat Exhibition Apart
- Biggest Basquiat Exhibition Ever
This exhibition will feature approximately 60 pieces from eight countries, marking the largest scale in South Korea. Additionally, The Notebook, the eight notebooks that document Basquiat’s creative processes, will be released in Korea for the first time. - Unique Cultural Approach
What makes this Basquiat exhibition even more special is its unique curatorial approach. Featuring East Asian pieces alongside Basquiat’s, including Korea’s Bangudae Petroglyphs from Uljin, the Hunminjeongeum Haerye manuscript, calligraphy by Chusa Kim Jeong-hui, and video art by Nam June Paik, the exhibition draws bold connections between Basquiat’s work and East Asian culture. - DDP Provides Experience Beyond the Exhibition
Housed in Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the show fits into a broader Seoul Art Week and Design Festival ecosystem, offering food pop‑ups, artist talks, and immersive installations around DDP.
What Else to Add to Your Korea Travel Plan, Other than the Jean-Michel Basquiat Exhibition
- Street art combined with K‑pop vibes: After experiencing Basquiat’s raw and rebellious energy at DDP, take it to the streets. Literally. Head to Hongdae, Seoul’s youth-driven art and indie music district, where alley walls explode with murals, character tags, and political graffiti. You’ll also find buskers dancing to or singing K‑pop, underground rappers, and live painting sessions happening on weekend nights. It’s where Korea’s vibrant youth culture pulses loud and unfiltered; Basquiat would’ve felt right at home.
- Fashion meets art: Basquiat once said, “I start a picture and I finish it.” Seoul adopts a similar approach to fashion. Visit Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)’s concept stores and nearby designer boutiques for capsule collections that blur the line between clothing and canvas. Or explore Seongsu, Seoul’s version of Brooklyn, where art studios, pop-ups, and sneaker labs coexist in repurposed warehouses. You’ll walk away inspired and probably wearing something you didn’t expect to find.
- Healing in nature: Balance your cultural intake with a dose of calm. Korea offers quick escapes that feel worlds away. Climb Inwangsan, a mountain right in Seoul with panoramic views and ancient shamanist rock carvings. After seeing Basquiat’s high-voltage art, nature will feel like a deep exhale.
- Cultural immersion: Head to Bukchon Hanok Village, where centuries-old traditional homes sit quietly between modern restaurants, cafes, and art galleries. Visit the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Samcheong-dong for more Korean contemporary works that explore themes similar to those found in Basquiat, such as identity, resistance, and reinterpretation of history.
If you’re still unsure whether to add the Basquiat exhibition to your Korea travel list, don’t hesitate any longer. Whether you’re a long-time Basquiat fan or planning your first art pilgrimage, DDP’s 2025 exhibition “Basquiat: Signs. Connecting the Past and The Future” delivers something new. Expanded narratives, immersive presentation, and architectural theatre.
Pair your Basquiat exhibition ticket with Seoul’s museums, vibrant districts, and cultural events. You won’t regret it!
