In Memento Moa, an exhibition of all new work, Gary Baseman creates a mythical land of hybrid creatures—exploring themes of migration, memory, and mortality.

Playing off the phrase “memento mori” which expresses the inevitability of death, Baseman reimagines Aotearoa New Zealand as a land of rebirth and harmony, bringing back the giant moa from extinction to symbolize those loved and now lost. Baseman pays tribute to his beloved cousin who immigrated to New Zealand from the United States, but whom he never visited at her new home during her lifetime. Through iconic characters set in fantastical landscapes, Memento Moa considers family, history, and the idea of home with the artist’s longstanding desire to “celebrate the beauty of the bittersweetness of life.”

Gary Baseman’s Memento Moa Exhibition is proudly sponsored by NBS

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About Gary Baseman

Baseman is a Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist who explores history, ancestry, and the human experience, particularly love, longing, and loss. He combines popular culture and fine art by creating imaginative visuals with iconic imagery showcasing life's bittersweet beauty.  A blend of humour, darkness, and poignancy are characteristics of Baseman’s imagery and characters.

Please visit his website for more information on Gary Baseman and his art.