Spike Lee's new film *Highest 2 Lowest*, an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's *High and Low*, prominently features artworks from Lee's personal collection—or replicas of them—as set decoration. Production designer Mark Friedberg used Lee's collection, previously surveyed at the Brooklyn Museum in 2023, as a reference to establish the character of music tycoon David King, played by Denzel Washington. Works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kehinde Wiley, Deborah Roberts, Gordon Parks, Henry Taylor, and others appear in the film, including Basquiat's *Horn Players* (1983) and *Now's the Time* (1985), Tim Okamura's portrait of Toni Morrison, and pieces from Andy Warhol's 'Muhammed Ali' series.
The film's use of Lee's art collection matters because it underscores the growing intersection between Hollywood and the art world, where personal collections are leveraged for authentic character development and visual storytelling. It also highlights the cultural significance of Lee's holdings, which include works by Black artists that reflect themes of identity, history, and power—aligning with the film's narrative about wealth, integrity, and moral testing. The integration of these artworks into a major motion picture further elevates the visibility of contemporary artists and the role of collecting as a form of personal and political expression.