HOTA Gallery celebrates the Masters of Pop Art in world premiere exhibition

Home of the Arts (HOTA) is proud to present an exclusive exhibition of works never-before-seen in Australia. Launching on 18th February 2023, the world premiere of Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York will be a celebration of the origins and ongoing legacy of the Pop Art movement.

Foregrounding the private collection of prominent art collector, Jose Mugrabi, the exhibition will present over 40 seminal works from an array of legendary artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, alongside pieces by Jeff Koons, Katherine Bernhardt, Kwesi Botchway, George Condo, Damien Hirst, KAWS, Joel Mesler, Richard Prince, Tom Sachs, Julian Schnabel, Mickalene Thomas and Tom Wesselmann.

Through the juxtaposition of contemporary works with those from the original icons of the 1970s and ‘80s, such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, the exhibition sparks a cultural conversation between veteran artists and modernday frontrunners of the genre.

Visitors are introduced to the movement with over 10 works from Pop Art pioneer, Andy Warhol, including his celebrated masterwork, Sixteen Jackies (1964). The display continues through to contemporary highlights including the 2.8-metretall sculpture What Party (2018) by KAWS.

Works from Keith Haring, like his 1979 piece Untitled (Dancing Dogs), highlight the dialogue between

Street Art and Pop Art. Meanwhile, the display spotlights one of the late 20th century’s most important artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat, through works such as the iconic painting New York, New York (1981) and his collaboration with Andy Warhol.

“Pop Masters has been six years in the making and HOTA is delivering a world exclusive exhibition right here on the Gold Coast. Over the years it has evolved into a bespoke exhibition that offers a completely unique experience. Having access to the Mugrabi family’s personal collection is a real privilege and the artworks rarely leave New York. We are thrilled to be bringing these iconic artists and celebrated artworks to Australia for the first time,” says Criena Gehrke, CEO at HOTA.

This landmark exhibition will run from 18th February – 4th June 2023. A contemporary cultural precinct, the new AUD$60.5 million HOTA Gallery opened to the public on the Gold Coast in May 2021 and is the largest public gallery outside a capital city in Australia. Tourism Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, has identified Pop Masters as a great cultural addition to the Gold Coast visitor economy.

“This is a major destination event for the Gold Coast and Queensland, as the only place in the southern hemisphere to experience the unique art culture of 1970s and 80s New York in one blockbuster collection.”