In 1981, Jean-Michel Basquiat created the promotional graffiti sign for New York/New Wave, a landmark group exhibition at MoMA P.S.1 that featured more 100 artists from New York's downtown avant-garde art scene. The show, which also included Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, launched Basquiat's career. His hand-lettered "NEW YORK NEWAVE" fills the back of this gray cotton twill trench coat with his signature embroidered near the front hem.
The coat has fully cotton-lined body and poly-lined sleeves that make it easy to slip on over other layers. It has two exterior hand pocket and an interior welt pocket, plus back vent, and button front with adjustable button cuffs. The unisex cut is boxy and slightly oversized; women may want to size down.
Offered on the occasion of the exhibition You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond, on view October 2, 2026 - April 4, 2027.
