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Gary Basemen showcases again the motifs of home and nostalgia in creating another breathtaking installation honoring his family's legacy. Known for designing the best-selling board game "Cranium," Baseman often integrates drawings, paintings and sculptures to construct multi-dimensional environments. His fantastical creatures and mythic narratives have captured the hearts of his beloved fans worldwide.

Shulamit Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition by noted local artist Gary Baseman. His seminal exhibitions align closely with the mission and vision of Shulamit Gallery as an innovative art space committed to engaging locals through cross-cultural productions and programming. Devoted to building bridges between our regional and global community, Shulamit Gallery focuses on the Middle East with a special interest in Iranian, Israeli, and Jewish artists.

Gary Baseman weaves together multiple forms of art as a painter, illustrator, video and performance artist, animator, TV/movie producer, curator, and toy designer. He created the three-time Emmy and BAFTA award-winning animation series, Teacher's Pet, earning him credit as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Entertainment by Entertainment Weekly Magazine. The Los Angeles Times has described his art as "adorably perverse," humorously playful and dark, and childlike but often with adult themes. His fine art has been displayed in galleries and museums in California, Brazil, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, and all over the United States.

Inspired by Baseman's recent retrospective The Door Is Always Open at the Skirball Cultural Center, his solo exhibition at Shulamit Gallery will extend this narrative. Mythical Homeland includes a three dimensional birch tree forest as homage to his parents' legacy. Both resided as partisans in forests,  hiding from the Nazis, in the outskirts of Poland during WWII. Hung among over a dozen life sized trees and on the walls of the gallery will be Baseman's familiar paintings, drawings and photographs of his lively creatures and young girls. This multi-media installation explores the myth of both place and space, while exposing shifting national narratives with regard to Communist, Fascist and Nazi perspectives. Overlaid is the artist's personal narrative. His subjects, then, become loaded with meaning as he creates fantastical, allegorical compositions. 

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Shulamit Gallery, founded by owner and director Shulamit Nazarian, began as a roaming gallery in the spring of 2006. Shulamit is pleased to be expanding to her first flagship space in Venice, California at 17 North Venice Boulevard, adjacent to the ocean. The gallery supports work that is aesthetically innovative, socially engaged, and that fosters dialogue and views the artist as a cultural ambassador. Devoted to building bridges between our regional and global community, Shulamit Gallery focuses on the Middle East with a special interest in Israeli, Iranian and Jewish artists.

Shulamit Gallery is deeply rooted in the Persian value of mehman navaz, meaning hospitality. In Hebrew, this is expressed as hakhnasat orchim. The gallery is a place where people from diverse communities are welcomed. Our programming explores the role of art and culture in assimilation, acculturation, the shifting of geographical boundaries, personal identity and in how racism and religious persecution negatively impact our society. Shulamit Gallery strives to use art as a platform to create a more inclusive and hospitable future.

To learn more about Shulamit Gallery, our exhibition schedule and programming, please visit our website: www.shulamitgallery.com.

Khosh amadid. We look forward to welcoming you!