Friends and Legends: The Collection of Michael Chow

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Peter Blake, Urs Fischer, Keith Haring, David Hockney, Ed Ruscha, Julian Schnabel, Andy Warhol

Gagosian is pleased to present Friends and Legends: The Collection of Michael Chow, a two-part presentation of major works from the collection of Michael Chow.

Since first opening in Knightsbridge, London, in 1968, followed by locations in Beverly Hills in 1974 and New York in 1979, Michael Chow’s legendary Chinese restaurant, Mr Chow, has been a center of gravity for the contemporary art world. Larry Gagosian noted, “It’s hard to think of a restaurant more synonymous with the art world than Mr Chow. I have hosted parties there for over thirty years, and Michael has been a friend for even longer. He created a unique environment that has been a draw for artists, alongside the fashion and entertainment industries, since he opened. I’m pleased to present works from his collection in two cities where he has been a fixture for decades.”

The exhibition features portraits of Michael Chow by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Peter Blake, Urs Fischer, Keith Haring, David Hockney, Ed Ruscha, Julian Schnabel, and Andy Warhol, reflecting his affinity for artists and the arts. This collection of contemporary portraits—many of which have been displayed at Mr Chow over the years—emerged from his vision to commission individuals who would become some of the most important artists of our time. The care and creativity each artist put into these works affirm the depth of those relationships.

“Art and artists have been at the heart of my life,” said Michael Chow. “The privilege of living with these treasures and sharing them with the public has brought me great joy. Every piece carries a story, a seat at the table, and a cherished friendship—and over time, these artists have proven to be the greats of our century. Now, it’s time to see them go out into the world and have my fifteen minutes.”

In Mr. Chow L.A. (1973), Ruscha paints the restaurant’s name with ingredients used in its kitchen, including egg yolk, soybean paste, beet, and coconut milk. Lovingly created with these experimental materials, the painting followed the artist’s radical Chocolate Room, which debuted at the 1970 Biennale di Venezia.

Warhol’s Portrait of Michael Chow (1984) repeats the iconic figure’s image across two panels covered with a shimmering layer of “diamond dust.” Another early work by Warhol from 1959—a three-panel folding screen featuring a large-scale drawing of “Torte a la Camp” along with a tongue-in-cheek recipe—has been on long-term display at the restaurant in Beverly Hills, located near its dessert section.

Discussing Basquiat’s portrait from 1985, Michael Chow recounts: “I sat for Jean-Michel. He made this powerful image and then ferociously painted over the picture without looking at me or the canvas. He is the master of controlled accidents. The result is something very personal with great insight and lots of love.” A fixture of the Beverly Hills restaurant, Mr. Chow as Green Prawns in a Bowl of Noodles (1986) was composed by Haring in his signature style of dynamic lines and vibrant colors to depict three versions of the restaurateur in a bowl of one of the house’s specialty dishes.

Additional highlights include a classic Pop work by Blake; a half-length portrait drawn from life by Hockney; an homage to Michael Chow’s father by Ruscha; a portrait composed with paint and plate fragments, including fine china from Mr Chow, by Schnabel; and a candle sculpture by Fischer.

Also on display is an expansive Artist Drawing Book, which is filled with drawings and inscriptions often created live in the restaurant. Featuring contributions by the many artists who have dined there—from Basquiat, Haring, Hockney, and Schnabel to Francis Bacon, Francesco Clemente, Mark Grotjahn, Jasper Johns, Louise Nevelson, Cy Twombly, and many others—it is a creative archive that cements Mr Chow’s status as a cultural and culinary institution.