Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection for April 2017
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
We’ve been fans of Basquiat’s art since before the early days of UD; so when his estate approached us about a collaboration based on his artwork, we couldn’t wait to start creating. From the colors and shade names to the packaging, EVERYTHING in this collection evolved from Basquiat’s art. Like Urban Decay, Basquiat was an outsider who challenged the status quo and used color in nontraditional ways. From his informal graffiti work and the way he mixed mediums and colors to the way he spoke out against social injustice, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect fit for our brand.
April 20th
The Details
Tenant Eyeshadow Palette, $39.00 (Limited Edition)
- Studio Pale pink matte
- 1960 Bright pink matte
- Neo Rich aubergine with micro-shimmer
- Les Charcoal-black matte-satin
- Graffiti Deep metallic green
- Exu Bright green shimmer
- Boom Bright teal matte
- Untitled Rich deep blue matte
Gold Griot Eyeshadow Palette, $39.00 (Limited Edition)
- Enigma Neutral pale nude matte
- Levitation Warm pale nude matte
- Not for Sale Medium sienna matte
- Suckerpunch Warm brown shimmer
- Influence Brown satin wtih gold shimmer
- BK Gray matte-satin
- Pseudonym Deep navy matte
- Crown Very metallic gold
Gallery Blush Palette, $34.00 (Limited Edition)
- X-Rated Medium pink
- Now’s The Time Gold-champagne shimmer
- Jawbone Medium bronze
- NOHO radiant berry
Vice Lipstick, $17.00 (Limited Edition)
- Abstract Nude-taupe (Cream)
- Epigram Neutral sienna (Cream)
- Exhibition Medium pink-purple (Comfort Matte)
24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, $20.00 (Limited Edition)
- Post Punk Bright neon green with a hint of pearl
- Anatomy Sienna matte
- Vivid Bright teal matte
Cosmetic Bag, (Limited Edition)
- Gallery Cosmeitc Bag ($18.00)
- 1983 Cosmetic Bag ($18.00)
- Untitled Cosmetic Bag ($35.00)
UD Jean-Michel Basquiat Vault, $165.00 (Limited Edition)
Part of the UD Jean-Michel Basquiat collection, this Vault contains our entire Basquiat makeup collection.
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection
These look like great palettes for new people to the brand, but I’ll be waiting for a Glambot deal on these since a lot of the colors are things already in my collection. What I AM really excited about are the makeup bags and the liners. I’ll definitely be trying to get the larger makeup bag for when I travel and all three of the liners.
Adding liner colors was a fantastic idea for UD limited edition product. Though it would be fabulous if they came in a little set of all three as the half size liners, or maybe two double ended liners. I can never seem to go through a full length UD pencil – except Empire. I’ve used many of those.
I also really like that the Tenant palette hits on a lot of the colors in the Color of the Year palettes from Pantone so we can get some quality shadows in those shades. The Sephora palettes always disappoint on quality but I do love having a color snap shot of each year.
Phooey. I had this collection in my checkout cart this morning and had to get to work. When I got back around to trying to check out, everything went to unavailable. Darn work! LOL Well, I was going to buy 2 liners, the Tenant palette, and blush palette….
My understanding is that it won’t be on sale until April 20 — UD.com just had the items up to look at?
Yes, they weren’t supposed to be available. I think it was a posting error on their site. Sadly, I didn’t act fast enough. I recall this happened with another launch, can’t recall which brand, and many people got orders placed and shipped early.
You can get this shipped from urban decay freestanding stores with free shipping! Call +1 (310) 214-1928 🙂
Nice design. Not sure about product yet until you test it. In any case, I am at a “no buy”. I do have a pair of his shoes…I think it is his brand…beautiful shoes…before the shoes now made in China…down the alley of garbage.
China, you made me thinking… thank you
I own a pair of Jean Michael Cazabat shoes, and I bought an LE Addiction by Ayako eye shadow with this Jean Michael design.
Psychedelic design also.
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an abstract painter who died in the late 80s. I think you are confusing him with someone else!
Yes, I did, on the shoes, but not on the Addiction by Ayako cosmetics. 2013 was the year. Addiction is a department store brand cosmetics and I have one of those LE quad eyeshadow. Search the web. You will find it.
You are right! Cool packaging!
Yeah I’m gonna need that blush palette 🙂
Did someone say Cheek Palette? ? I am also digging that terra-cotta eyeliner…
Now THIS! Is the most fresh thing UD has done in years! I love it. Way to find a way back to the edge of the city street again. This speaks to me…
Yes to everything you said!
I really need the vault but I don’t think they will distribute it in my country 🙁
IDK, not a big fan of the artwork, and since UD’s shadow quality has been pretty suspect lately, won’t buy anything without swatches and reviews first.
I appreciate the packaging, that they’re changing things up, it’s attention getting and not too cute. I’m interested in that warm brown eyeliner. Hope the quality is all good, that they pay as much attention to that as the campaign look itself.
I haven’t been this excited for a collection in a LONG time. I actually squealed. Going to wait for swatches before I make my final decisions, but I’m definitely getting at least a makeup bag.
I’m also dying. Love Basquiat’s art and what he stands for, and I think this was executed perfectly. I love also that UD mentions that Basquiat’s estate approached THEM (my first thought was that this could be somewhat exploitative of the reputation and goodwill Basquiat attained). It’s going to be hard to resist that vault… all these colors look so flattering on my medium-tan skin, I definitely want to pick up at least one item!!
Yes! Those were my thoughts exactly. Once I read UD was approached, I got even more excited. My love for Basquiat’s art is going to make it even harder to decide what to get.
Buh-bye, no buy!
I can only hope Ulta ends up getting the vault. I have points to cash in!
The collaboration definitely a plus for UD; the design is fresh and fun. I love the bags.
I really like the Tennant Palette but it reminds me so much of the Urban Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette except that this palette may be a bit brighter. I look forward to your swatches and review! Overall it seems like a really exciting collection!
Ordered from ulta today. I agree with you waiting to see how similar to the neon green in the full spectrum pallete and some of the other colors in other collections too. Definitely had to have the pencils don’t think they have dupes for those
yup I am buying every single piece of this collection thank you
I hope it’s brown girl friendly.
I’m sad that this will only be available through Urban Decay. They don’t make everything available in Canada, and I generally prefer to buy from Sephora, since I can get things from different brands at once. (Plus, there’s a greater chance that I’ll have to pay shipping.
I think that UD and Basquiat is a great pairing and, just from looking at it, I think that this is the only collection where I’ve been tempted to buy the vault.
Urban Decay has a Canadian site, and I’m not sure it won’t be at other retailers – but UD has only mentioned their site at the moment.
Thanks for once again being a great source of information. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for this!
Actually, we may be in luck…just saw it at Shoppers’ Drug Mart in Southern Ontario (some locations carry UD). The palettes are mazing, picked up the Tenant one (that chartreusy colour is gorgeous)…and it isn’t April 20 the yet, so maybe there was an “oops” in favour of us Canadians for once ?
There is early access for Sephora Canada on the mobile app starting April 19
There is early access today on the Sephora app and it releases tomorrow on the App as well.
Thanks for the heads’ up! I still can’t decide if I want to pick and choose, or if I’m willing to bite the (lipstick) bullet and buy the whole thing.
This looks absolutely stunning, but to be honest, I’m not that…comfortable with it. I guess it depends on the intention with this collection. Was it to make money (duh)? Can a makeup collection be considered art in itself? Did creators take the time to study and create an appropriate homage? Or is this putting out cool packaging no one will understand to stand out in the saturated make up marketplace?
I’m no scholar on the subject, but Basquiat’s themes were poverty, colonialism, and racism, to name a few. Can that be apparent in a make up collection? Should it be? Or are we allowed to stare at and use pretty colors and textures and not have to think about these themes the artist committed himself too.
Could be overthinking since this clearly isn’t the first arist-makeup company collab, but this one struck a chord in a different way for me.
All good points. I’m not familiar with the artist, but the press release mentioned that his estate approached UD. I’m hoping that means they had a strong hand in the creative process and approved of how the products were curated and presented, since it seems that they initiated the collaboration.
I agree, and tbh I really dislike what UD has done. Considering UD uses a lot of drug reference sin their marketing, even using taglines like “addiction has its perks”… and Basquiat died of a drug overdose. Really tactless.
It’s also being released on 4/20 :/
I think as an artist, especially one who painted and drew, Basquiat would likely appreciate the artistry of these tools. This is literally a collection of brushes, and minerals/pigments with a base to get them to have the consistency to be used for their respective surface (skin, lips, near eyes).
Estates like that of Basquiat are structured to effectuate the goals/intents of the deceased or what he would have wanted (e.g. perhaps he wanted to grow the estate and donate to a charity of his choosing). It’s another cross-marketed platform and demographic that bring attention to his art and ideas, which I think most artists like too. I commented earlier, but I think it’s significant that Basquiat’s estate approached MAC to do this collaboration. Another commenter, Saffron, below talked about Urban Decay’s frequent references glorifying (or normalizing) drug use and that she finds it distasteful in light of the fact that Basquiat overdosed. I can definitely get behind the sentiment. For a lot of artists, it seems that the anything-goes vibe of certain drug-positive bohemian communities allows them to feel free, and expressively unrestricted around like-minded individuals. Basquiat was also around other addicts and likely recognized his addiction worsened his depression. It’s hard to read into his thoughts on this though when he has already passed — but it’s still a good critical thing to think about for this collaboration. Ultimately the Estate approached UD, even though UD has what some would consider to be uncouth shade titles.
“Or are we allowed to stare at and use pretty colors and textures and not have to think about these themes the artist committed himself too.” I don’t think that’s what Temptalia stands for, or something that a lot of commenters would think! I think referring to a background assumption that just because a commodity is marketed to mainly women, it’s not meant to be critically looked at. In my opinion, I think that Temptalia.com completely rejects this idea, and the site stands for cutting through PR nonsense and seeing if products deliver on their promises, and thinking about overall what the brand is doing with a release (including its impact on consumers and what it means when certain things are commodified (See also editor’s comments on the posts about MAC’s Vibe Tribe Colleciton and the NARS x Guy Bourdin collaboration: http://www.temptalia.com/mac-vibe-tribe-collection-for-summer-2016/; http://www.temptalia.com/nars-x-guy-bourdin-color-collection-photos-swatches-commentary/).
lol. Mistyped – that his estate sought out Urban Decay, not MAC. Also another typo — ” I think [what you’re] referring to [is] a background assumption…”
I totally agree. I DO love Basquiat and makeup buuuttttt I really don’t think he would’ve collaborated with a makeup company if it were up to him, unless it was as a joke. Before he died, he was already worried that his work was being too marginalized and marketed. I’ll still probably buy it but I feel you…
I literally can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a collaboration.
Cute
The gold eyeshadow palette, and the blush palette are STUNNING looking omg!!
They’d be PERFECTION for travel, and every day for me. I could just bring a few bright singles or pencil liners. And be good to go!
How great that they included a “vault” option. I wish we saw that more often, and this is a super deal!
Before I dive headlong into getting some of these, i will wait to see some swatches. However; this collection looks like it may very well be this spring’s winner at putting together some innovative color pairings and very cool packaging! All the palettes are speaking to me here! Lime green pencil, too.
Very very good looking
OMG now THAT is COOL!!! So different!! I’m definitely going to pick up at least one or two things from this collection! UD doesn’t do this often like MAC. This is awesome!!
Now this is quite a collaboration ! Cudos to UD for bringing to the public attention the unique, edgy artistic style of Jean-Michel Basquiat. While the colours in the eyeshadow/blush palettes are not speaking to me personally, I’m eyeing the Sienna matte eye pencil and the cosmetic bags.
This looks really exciting – it’s great to see UD do something a bit different. I am praying that the quality of the products is excellent and that UD is not going the way of Too Faced – pretty packaging and poor products.
I love the look of the blush palette, though more blush is really the last thing I need. So much UD ends up at Nordstrom Rack eventually – perhaps this will too 😀
Do people honestly buy or care about bags when collections include them like this? I don’t get it.
Anyway, I am going to be snarky and say “an interesting collection… from Urban Decay!?” because we haven’t had one of those in a while. Great starter palettes and included brushes. Can’t wait to see lipstick swatches. Otherwise the packaging, while pretty, looks sub-functional (don’t like the cardboard clamshell design).
I was actually thinking about buying just the bag, because none of the makeups interest me but I love the aesthetic of the collection.
I am glad you said so! That’s a good strategy.
Did you know that the makeup pieces were made that way because the back is made so each palette can be hung on the wall like artwork?
I definitely do; especially when it’s a well-known artist’s work being utilized. I’m a big fan of small bags (I carry big purses so they come in handy to compartmentalize things).
Though I totally get why others would be like “what’s the point?” lol!
Thanks for saying so! I do the same thing but most of my small bags were given to me and I have accumulated a bunch. But that is not the norm, for sure.
A stunning collaboration! That’s truly urban decay IMO, not rainbow or nude eyeshadows in a elegant packing, it is an attitude, one and only.
I’m so happy to say this…..there’s nothing that screams buy me!!!!
My wallet just thanked me. ?
Oh, YES!!!! I wish I could afford the vault. I’ll get at least the Tenant eye palette.
GUH! What a fun collection. The bags and packaging are great.
Oh my god… I NEVER buy makeup just for the packaging, but I think I’m going to have to break that for this collection. I really want the Gold Griot palette just for that design! And maybe the other one too if I have some extra cash… wow. First UD release that’s caught my eye in a long time! The warm brown eyeliner is really lovely, too. *instantly removes all the permanent items from my cart that I was planning to purchase during the VIB sale*
First thought– reminded me of Dia De Los Muertes artwork.
Second Thought — The eyeliners interest me the most.
I’m really digging the packaging and the palettes look quite nice.
Wow! I love the artist, I love this collection. I’m literally going to buy the vault and the bags- because I could never afford a painting back in the day. I hope it doesn’t sell out before I can get my hands on it…and I hope the makeup is good quality!
I’ve been so bored with makeup lately (so many lame neutral palettes!) and this has restored my faith that makeup can be interesting and artistic!
Love the design of this collection, and have my eyes on Tenant, but will absolutely wait for swatches before I buy.
OMG! Love the packaging and the colors! Soo hope that the Gold Griot Eyeshadow Palette will get a good rate from you, Christina, so that I could start stalking it in our local store 🙂
I don’t know how well some of these colors would work for me, but I am all about those makeup pouches!! lol
Excited! Hoping everything is excellent!!!
Those eyeshadow palettes and especially the lipsticks are really calling out to me. The cheek palette looks pretty too, but those colors are way too dark for me. The artwork is amazing though, but I don’t think I would spend that much on a makeupbag… I hope it will be available in The Netherlands, and I will definitely be checking it out if it does!
Ok… my poor bank balance. I thought I was done for a while on the make up front ? At least it’ll stop me buying random stuff if I know I’ve got some stunners coming up to buy.
Interesting artwork, but personally I can’t see myself going for this collection.
Definitely feeling this collection, would love to see the eye pencils, lipsticks, cheek palette and the makeup bags! I wish it was at Ulta so I can swatch!
Melissa – my Ulta already has it. I was told they all should this coming week.
That Anatomy eyeliner looks so interesting. I wonder if it will perform better than Sephora’s Sly Like a Fox does for me.
Yes, definitely interested in swatches, and what the dupes will be (since some look really similar to other UD colors). I’m really interested in the pencils, the tenant collection and Exhibition lipstick (but wondering if it is similar to other pink purples they have). The sienna colors look interesting but wondering how they’d look on my complexion. Did they give you any advanced samples so that you can swatch them for us?
Does anyone know what time UD typically lets people buy on release day? Is it 12AM PST? I want everything from this collection! 🙂
I’m a little annoyed that Graffiti isn’t the same as UD’s former shade of the same name, ha ha.
Does anyone else think it’s strange to “collaborate” with the deceased? I would rather different phrasing be used, like “inspired.” (Semantics?) Don’t want to go so far as to say it’s necessarily distasteful, but I wonder if Basquiat would want this.
I am interested in two of the lipsticks. Epigram and Exhibition. I hope the colours are nice, if they are, I will be picking them up for sure!
Anyone know if the makeup bags are included if you buy the collection bundle?
It’s not included — the description says that it contains makeup from the collection and the photo also just shows makeup. It’s still a great value though! At $165.00, you’re saving $58 over the retail price for the individual items (39×2 + 34 + 17×3 + 20×3 = $ 223).
Hi Christine, Did you get the PR package for this yet? I saw some beauty bloggers get it and i really want to see the swatches! Or are u not allowed to do that yet
Sorry, I don’t have anything from this launch.
I’m a huge fan of the brand and of Basquiat so I am extremely excited. Just from poking around YouTube, it appears that the eye and cheek palettes are pigmented and look great. This is one of those things where I want the packaging SO bad I’m almost more interested in that aspect of it but because it’s filled with my favorite brand of makeup how could it get any better?
I want Gold Griot very badly. Does anyone know if they will be selling individual pieces from the collection instores or is it the vault only in stores and individual pieces on urban decay website only?
It’s already in store in Sephora and will be in all the Ulta stores next week. My Ulta already has it.
UD X Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection available now @Sephora Canada (early access on Sephora App). The VIB Rouge discount I have does not apply to the items from these collection. It applied however to the other items I had in my cart (not part of this collection).
I didn’t even notice the discount didn’t apply to mine either… what a bummer. If Sephora is going to do a sale, it should really apply to all of their products. :/
I bought the entire Basquiat collection and my 15% Rogue discount worked.
It’s odd it worked for some people and not for others!
Emilie, I ordered twice the same products from the collection. The first time when I placed the order it was around 4:00 a.m. ET (Canada) and the discount did not apply. However, almost one hour later, the discount did apply so I placed another order for the same products (I know, it sounds crazy). Since the initial order was already “In progress” I couldn’t cancel it but I will return the items from this first order and keep the discounted ones. You can send an email to Sephora or talk to them, if you want. They can give you a code for 15% discount to be applied after this sale, when the collection will be again available. I assume it was a glitch in their system as I saw on Instagram that many people had the same issue (the discount applying on and off). I posted under the Sephora Sale that the discount finally applied but I forgot to mention it here.
Thanks for the reply, Nicole! I placed my order around 4:00am ET too, that explains it. I just called and they gave me online store credit instead of a discount code to just redo the purchase and return the other stuff… eh, oh well.
Happy to hear that they gave you an online store credit ! 🙂
Any idea when more of the cosmetic bags will be released
This was one of the first collections in a long time that really interested me. Of COURSE when I tried to order what I wanted, it was all sold out.
*sigh*….
hey christine, will you be doing dupes for the lipsticks/
The entire collection is available at all Urban Decay Freestanding stores with free shipping on any purchase plus free samples. Only the Vault is sold out!
Call +1 (310) 214-1928 to order 🙂
Hi! Do tout plan on making swatches of these babies? I would love to know if it has any dupes with other palettes i have! Thank you
Sorry, I don’t have any products from this launch.