Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York dives into the world of three iconic artists - Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The exhibition also explores contemporary artists that were inspired by their legacy; Kaws, Mickalene Thomas, Katherine Bernhardt, and Damien Hirst just to name a few.  

We talked with the exhibition’s curators, Gallery Director Tracy Cooper-Lavery and Head of Curatorial and Programs Bradley Vincent, to discover how Warhol, Basquiat, and Haring influenced contemporary art, and why it was important to include contemporary artists in the exhibition.

What influence did Warhol, Basquiat, and Haring have on contemporary art? 

Andy Warhol in particular has had a massive influence on contemporary art and artists, and you can see that throughout this exhibition. He is the OG of Pop! His use of everyday, banal objects - bananas, dollar bills - as subject matter, critiqued an era of change and elevated the ordinary to the extraordinary. Many artists today have riffed on this idea in their own practice. A great example is Tom Sach’s Reece’s Pieces work which takes a humble chocolate wrapper and recreates it writ-large on canvas. Jeff Koons’ early career works included basketballs, vacuum cleaners and magazine advertisements, not to mention superheroes and comic book characters like Popeye and The Hulk in his more recent work. Another master who celebrates popular culture is Damien Hirst - take a look at the extraordinary lengths he goes to, to create his pharmaceutical cabinets - and don’t forget his notorious work from 1991; The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living - the work consists of a preserved tiger shark submerged in formaldehyde in a glass panelled display case! 

Many of these types of works would not have been possible without Warhol breaking new ground for what art could be. 

Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring changed the artworld of the 1980s through their snap imagery, radical ideas and socio-political commentary. They created an enduring legacy that continues to influence contemporary visual and popular culture today. Many contemporary artists are inspired by the illustrative qualities and maze-like patterns of Keith Haring. Artists such a Takashi Murakami and KAWS, who both use repetition, symbols and characters throughout their work.  

Basquiat is an icon to a multitude of artists and musicians, influencing fashion trends, inspiring films and endless imitators. In a very particular notion of Pop, often the idea of Basquiat has become more acknowledged than the work. Yet from Civil Rights to the Black Lives Matter movement, now more than ever Basquiat’s practice has relevancy and agency, calling attention to the traumas experienced by people of colour, and the lack of diversity in the contemporary art world.  His influence reaches as far as Australia with the important Queensland indigenous artist Gordon Bennett (1955 – 2014) creating an entire series of works titled Notes to Basquiat in the late 1990s. 

Why it is important to include contemporary artists in the exhibition? 

We really wanted to present an exhibition that has a unique point of view. When we look around at contemporary art you can see the influence of Pop Art everywhere. It was thrilling to get to build a kind of expanded universe of Pop. It gave us the chance to bring work by famous artists such as Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and KAWS to the Gold Coast for the very first time. And also, the chance to introduce some new names to our audiences - people like Katherine Bernhardt and Mickalene Thomas really bring the story of the exhibition right up to today.

Was it always in the plan to incorporate contemporary artists? 

An exhibition of artwork from the Mugrabi collection has been in development for six years and so like any good idea, they often go through a few redrafts! But the exhibition we have brought to the Gold Coast really feels like a great fit for our audience. It’s not just about the history of Pop, but the future!

How does the exhibition explore the evolution of Pop Art? 

The exhibition explores the foundations of Pop through originators like Warhol and Tom Wesselmann. You can see Andy’s influence particularly throughout the exhibition and his connections to contemporaries and influence on the next generation. In the spirit of Pop Art, this exhibition is adventurous and shamelessly bold. With culture-defining names and iconic artworks, Pop Masters invites audiences to unpack the creative crossroads between art and life and ask: what, actually, is Pop? From pill-filled medicine cabinets to giant peanut butter cups, from Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone to the modern day insta-famous, from ‘Great American Nudes’ to iconic dancing dogs, the exhibition is an adventure through a larger-than-life Pop world.  

Experience this incredible collection of works up close, direct from New York and only at HOTA Gallery. Let’s celebrate the origins and ongoing legacy of Pop Art at Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York.