As you probably know, Canter’s has a very special place in Baseman’s heart. This landmark in L.A.’s Fairfax district is where his mom Naomi served as head bakery salesperson for over thirty years, the spot that has inspired many of his drawings, and a place to meet with family and…
Artist Gary Baseman is joining the 2020 Venice Art Walk Benefit Auction featuring over 150 works by recognized contemporary artists including John Baldessari, Joseph Beuys, and Louise Bourgeois among others. For this auction, Baseman has donated an artwork featuring Baseman’s inseparable companion, collaborator, and continuous inspiration, Blackie the Cat. Created…
“Toby is based on my tomboy friend growing up in LA. She was four years older and I loved her … What Toby taught me then, and what he means now, is all about acceptance – acceptance of yourself and acceptance of others. He’s my alter ego, but the…
Happy Mother’s Day! Naomi Baseman was born in Kostopol, Poland in 1921, and survived the Holocaust, emigrating to the United States (via Canada) to settle with her family in Los Angeles, California. Always supportive of her son Gary’s art, Naomi attended her son’s exhibition openings, donned on Enlightened Chou masks…
“Vicious is about primal urges. Wanting so much to the point of losing control. Not knowing how deeply you are inflicting pain on another person. Drawing Blood. Being bloodthirsty. Reflecting the beast inside of us.” – Gary Baseman The solo exhibition Vicious by Gary Baseman opened in 2012 at the…
Garbs of Creamy Goodness was a collaboration between artist Gary Baseman and Tel Aviv duo Helena Blaunstein and Philip Blau, founders of the label Frau Blau. In 2011, in conjunction with the Design Museum in Holon, this exhibition featured clothing designed by Blaunstein and Blau that translated Baseman’s characters, including…
May 2 is the 11th Anniversary of La Noche de la Fusión! Inspired by his travels to Brazil, Italy, Thailand, and Israel, Gary Baseman created La Noche de la Fusion to celebrate the bittersweetness of life. An exhibition of more than a dozen paintings, an installation featuring The Enlightened Chou,…
The Door is Always Open’s reception was held seven years ago at the Skirball Cultural Center. It is one of the most representative exhibitions in Gary Baseman’s prolific career. Merging pop culture and fine art, this exhibition featured a body of work that explored the influence of Baseman’s Jewish family…
When crisis happen, artists often do what they can to make circumstances better. Long motivated to engage in dialogue about art-making and visual culture, Gary Baseman’s practice transforms everyday observations and experiences into art in an effort to bring more awareness to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this moment, Baseman is…
