Gary Baseman: Imaginary Friends

In his first exhibition in Australasia, 'Imaginary Friends' showcases dozens of dynamic characters created by Los Angeles-based artist Gary Baseman.

Shifting from a successful career in editorial illustration since the 1980s, Baseman started to create his own cast of characters in the 1990s that represent aspects of the human condition. The creator of Disney’s Teacher’s Pet, which won BAFTA and Emmy awards, Baseman also designed the board-game Cranium, and his toys are avidly collected worldwide. The characters exist as drawings, paintings, toys, fashion, or appear in photographs and video.

Demonstrating Baseman’s “pervasive art” that crosses media and disciplines, 'Imaginary Friends' shows his characters manifested in multiple ways, allowing viewers to engage personally and experientially, connecting the characters’ stories with their own.