Best Art Drops: James Jean 'Slingshot' Sculpture, 'Basquiat: A Graphic Novel' & More

Every week we spotlight the best art drops by notable artists, galleries, museums and contemporary art platforms across the globe. Listed items typically encompass limited edition artworks, prints, collectible figures, collaborative merchandise and more.

For this week’s installment: James Jean teams up with Avant Arte on a limited sculpture edition entitled Slingshot, Paddle8 launches benefit auction with Solar Panel Art Series, Yoon Hyup drops a limited edition print with EverydayMooonday Gallery, Italian illustrator Paolo Parisi purveys new graphic novel that chronicles Jean-Michel Basquiat’s meteoric rise in the art world, and Spanish artist Javier Mariscal joins forces with Louis Vuitton for the brand’s latest Travel Book series.

View the full list below.

James Jean x Avant Arte Slingshot Sculpture Edition

Avant Arte

Release Date: Available May 21 at 4 p.m. CET on Avant Arte’s website
Release Price: $ 4,937.97 USD

Globally acclaimed artist James Jean will soon launch a new sculpture edition with online contemporary art platform, Avant Arte. Entitled Slingshot, the collaborative release is an all-black artwork crafted out of premium bronze that portrays a young boy brandishing a slingshot with his eyes coated in gold.

Slingshot will release in a signed and numbered edition of 25.

Paddle8 x Solar Panel Art Series Online Auction

Paddle8

Release Date: Available to bid now on Paddle8’s website
Release Price: Current bids between $1,250 USD – $33,600 USD

The Solar Panel Art Series once again teamed up with Paddle8 on an online benefit auction. The collaborative “Transition Edition” installment features exclusive artworks for sale that were created on used solar panels. Participating artists include Danni Pantel, Fiete Stolte, Jiri Georg Dokoupil, Karl-Luis Vossbeck, Oskar Rink, Random International, Stefan Marx, Ian Shevack and Yangkura.

The “Transition Edition” is currently being auctioned on Paddle8 until May 30.

Yoon Hyup x EverydayMooonday Gallery Limited Edition Print

Yoon Hyup

Release Date: Available exclusively at EverydayMooonDay Gallery on May 25 at 5 p.m. GMT.
Release Price: TBD

EverydayMooonday gallery in Seoul is now presenting a vivid selection of paintings by NYC-based artist, Yoon Hyup. As part of a new solo exhibition entitled “Line & Dot,” Yoon’s signature abstract motifs are the core elements of the acrylic works including tondos, large- and small-scale paintings, as well as a hand-painted wall mural.

To celebrate the presentation, Yoon will soon launch a limited edition Untitled (2019) print that features a line and dot artwork of palm trees against a sunset sky. The 18 x 18 inch prints are available exclusively at the gallery in an edition of only 20 pieces.

EverydayMooonday
14 Songpa-daero 48-gil
Seoul, South Korea

Basquiat: A Graphic Novel by Paolo Parisi

Laurence King Publishing

Release Date: Available on Laurence King Publishing’s website
Release Price: £14.99 GBP (approx. $19.99 USD)

Italian illustrator Paolo Parisi recently published his latest graphic novel with Laurence King Publishing. Entitled Basquiat: A Graphic Novel, the book chronicles Jean-Michel Basquiat’s prolific art career starting from his days as a graffiti artist in the duo collective, SAMO, until his untimely death in 1988.

Collectively, the story is told from both Basquiat’s perspective and recollections from those who knew him as a person and as a phenomenal artist, including his father, Suzeanne Mallouk, Annina Nosei, Mary Boone and Larry Gagosian.

Louis Vuitton Travel Book Guide of Los Angeles by Javier Mariscal

Louis Vuitton

Release Date: Available in-store at Louis Vuitton flagships
Release Price: £38 GBP (approx. $50 USD)

Louis Vuitton has joined forces with Spanish artist Javier Mariscal for its latest Travel Book series installment.

The collaborative effort features a 176-page visual guide to Los Angeles. Mariscal’s signature bold illustrations of LA’s urban landscapes are observed across the tome including visuals of neon lights, slogans, shop signs, billboards and logos that are prevalent throughout the city. The book is limited to just 30 pieces, each of which are numbered and signed by the artist.