True Self
Group Exhibition curated by Gary Baseman

Gallery I

Opening Reception - Saturday, October 24th, 7-9pm

October 24, 2009 through November 21, 2009

NEW YORK, NY (October 1, 2009) — Jonathan LeVine Gallery is pleased to announce True Self, a group exhibition of new works by over 40 artists, brought together by represented artist and special guest curator Gary Baseman. The theme has been left open to encourage individual interpretation and there are no size or medium restrictions, so that each participating artist has complete creative freedom on the subject at hand.

In the curator’s words: “In this exhibition, I have invited a group of painters, photographers, and sculptors, to look deep inside themselves and create an image that they feel represents their own passion or obsession. They might imagine themselves as anyone or anything—a wolf, a cupcake, a mermaid, even a skyscraper. I am requesting each artist to create an artwork that represents his or her true self. I am not asking for (nor do I want) a self-portrait. Rather, I’m requesting that the participating artists pick an icon, metaphor, or symbol that they feel represents their true essence. The desired result is a breaking of boundaries to allow a space and time where we can discover, accept, and love our true selves, feeling nirvana and heaven on earth.”

*More artists and works to come*
Partial list of participating artists include:

ABOUT THE CURATOR Gary Baseman is a man of many talents, besides being a pervasive artist and painter, he is also an illustrator, toy designer, and TV/movie producer. His artwork has been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Rome, Taipei, Barcelona, and Berlin. He had an installation at the Pasadena Museum of California Art and a two-man show at Laguna Art Museum. Baseman blurs the line between toy culture and fine art with his strong iconic images, which are at once playful and dark, childlike and adult, id-driven and thought provoking. Baseman is also the creator and executive producer of Teacher’s Pet, a critically acclaimed animated series and film, a winner of multiple Emmy awards. Baseman’s artwork can be seen in The New Yorker, TIME, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and on the best selling board game Cranium.

SPECIAL THANKS:
Our gratitude goes out to The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York for their financial support in relation to exhibiting the work of Amor Muñoz.

Adam Wallacavage

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Alex Prager

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Amor Muñoz

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Boris Hoppek

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Clayton Brothers  

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Cleon Peterson

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Dave Cooper

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David Sandlin

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Deedee Cheriel

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Eric White

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Esther Pearl Watson

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Fons Schiedon

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Frieda Gossett

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Gary Baseman

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Gary Taxali

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Gérard DuBois

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Gretchen Ryan

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James Jean

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James Marshall (aka Dalek)

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Jonathon Rosen

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Josh Agle (aka Shag)

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Korin Faught

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Lauren Bergman

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Leah Hayes

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Lola  

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Luke Chueh

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Marion Peck

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Mark Ryden

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Mark Todd

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Martha Rich

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Mike Shinoda

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Miso  

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Natalia Fabia

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Orly Cogan

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Ray Caesar

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Robin VanValkenburgh

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Ron English

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Ryan Heshka

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Ryan Jacob Smith

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Shannon Freshwater

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The London Police  

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Tim Biskup

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Travis Lampe

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Opening Photos