Gary Baseman, who is entertaining visitors by the hundreds this season in L.A., his hometown, arrives in New York next week to introduce The Guest, a porcelain figure styled in the inimitable Baseman way. This project is a collaboration with Lladró Atelier, the contemporary branch of the distinguished Spanish porcelain brand, in celebration of the company’s 60^thanniversary.

The Guest is an ongoing project through which cutting edge artists around the world are invited by Lladró to put their stamp on a figure originally conceived by the Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon. The Guest was introduced in January at Maison et Objet, Paris, styled by Tim Biskup and the Japanese studio, Devilrobots. Figures by each artist are available in two sizes, the large one at 20-3/4 inches in an edition of 250 pieces, and the small one in a numbered series

Left: Gary Baseman's new character, The Guest, back view. Right: Lladró's The White Guest porcelain figure. You'll have to attend the event next Tuesday evening to see The Guest's cheery face.

Gary  Basemen will introduce his character next Tuesday, May 14, in a conversation with Dan Rubenstein, Editor-in-Chief of Surface Magazine. The talk begins at 6:30 pm and is followed by a reception. Lladró Atelier, 500 Madison Avenue, at 52^nd Street, NY, NY. RSVP or 800.785.3490 essential.

Gary Baseman (b. Los Angeles, 1960) crosses many lines of art as a painter, illustrator, video and performance artist, animator, TV/movie producer, curator and toy designer. His work has been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Time and Rolling Stone; and he designed the best-selling game “Cranium”. He created also the three-time Emma and BAFTA award-winning animation series, “Teacher’s Pet”, earning him credit as one of the Most Creative People named by Entertainment Weekly Magazine. The Los Angeles Times has described his art as “adorably perverse”, humorously playful and dark, childlike but often with adult themes. His fine art has been displayed in galleries and museums in Brazil, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia and all over the United States.