UPDATE on Baseman’s Off the Menu show at Johnie’s
MEDIA CONTACT: Gloria Westcott, info@garybaseman.com (323) 248-1959. For images, please see link at the end of this page.
ART SALES CONTACT: Denise Gray, denise@garybaseman.com
EXHIBITION HOURS: Thursday through Sunday, Noon–7pm (Subject to change).
Runs through Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Gary Baseman Studio is pleased to announce Off the Menu: Dining and Drawing in LA, an exhibition and “happening” featuring more than 40 original drawings by Gary Baseman, created directly on menus of beloved Los Angeles restaurants. Opening on May 8, 2026, in conjunction with Metro D Line Wilshire/Fairfax station celebrations, the exhibition will run through June 14, 2026 at Johnie’s Coffee Shop (6101 Wilshire Boulevard).
This marks Baseman’s first solo exhibition in Los Angeles since his mid-career survey The Door is Always Open at the Skirball Cultural Center in 2013. Off the Menu is a love letter to Los Angeles, his hometown, and the iconic restaurants that have come to define it. The exhibition showcases original drawings created by Baseman at dining establishments across the city—including classic Musso & Frank, Genghis Cohen, and Canter’s to more contemporary places like Jon & Vinny’s, Little Fish, and Max & Helen’s—capturing meals with friends and family through his signature “Dream Reality” lens, where mythical creatures mingle with real-life characters from the present and past.
Each work in Off the Menu is on the actual menus of LA restaurants, created by Baseman while dining. He calls these “action drawings”: a discipline that demands full engagement with the food, the moment, and his fellow diners, with each piece completed before the meal ends. The result is a body of work that transforms the everyday ritual of eating together into creative engagement.
For six weeks, Johnie’s Coffee Shop will be a unique location to present Baseman’s art. As he puts it: “Art exists everywhere. It doesn’t have to be called that, but good design and aesthetics affect how anyone experiences a place. I am honored to show my work at Johnie’s. I’m so glad this Googie building still exists.”
EVENTS: Metro D Line Celebration at Johnie’s: Friday, May 8, 3–6pm, Opening Reception: Saturday, May 9, 2026, 6–9pm
EXHIBITION & PROGRAMMING
In addition to original artworks for sale, Baseman will offer limited edition merchandise designed and made in Los Angeles. This includes an exclusive Off the Menu 4-color letterpress poster produced by the legacy printer Aardvark Press. In conjunction with the exhibition, Baseman Studio is working on a full-color book with an essay by Los Angeles cultural historian Jim Heimann.
Programming will include talks and workshops on art, food, design, architecture, and Los Angeles history and culture. Details will be announced via Gary Baseman’s website and e-newsletter (sign up at garybaseman.com) and through the artist’s social media channels. Due to the intimate scale of the space, programs may require reservations at eventbrite.com.
ABOUT THE LOCATION: JOHNIE’S COFFEE SHOP
Johnie’s has not operated as a diner since 2000, yet it remains a beloved presence in the city’s cultural landscape—familiar to generations of Angelenos and to audiences worldwide through its iconic appearances in film and television.
The family who owns Johnie’s, longtime Angelenos who grew up in the neighborhood, are excited and grateful to welcome fellow Fairfax High School alumnus Gary Baseman to the space. His limited-run exhibition Off the Menu debuts May 8, 2026 to coincide with the celebratory opening of the new Wilshire/Fairfax Metro stop across from Johnie’s.
Off the Menu: Dining and Drawing in LA brings a momentary window into Gary Baseman’s new body of work to Johnie’s, adding to a historic milestone for Miracle Mile, Museum Row, and this special part of the City. The family has generously invited Baseman to exhibit his works as they reimagine new opportunities to connect and celebrate the spirit of Los Angeles together. Sharing a mutual love of and gratitude for LA, Gary Baseman and the family invite all to connect at Wilshire/Fairfax, and try the Metro D Line subway extension.
For press: MEDIA IMAGES HERE
