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Keith Mayerson, Arisfroggle Contemplating a Bust of a Twerp, 2022. Image courtesy of the artist.

“My American Dream: City of Angels” by Keith Mayerson
Where: Karma
When: May 23 – July 20

Why It’s Worth A Look: Ahead of his opening at Karma, Mayerson has been posting a series of paintings of Kermit the Frog, presumably the star of his forthcoming exhibition. Kermit is sipping Lipton tea, riding his bicycle, marrying Ms. Piggy in a reimagining of the Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, and more. The “City of Angels” show centers on the West Coast metropolis and, to be frank, there are few Hollywood stars more iconic than the Frog.

Know Before You Go: Of the paintings, Mayerson shared on Instagram, “Jim Henson’s Kermit as the bandleader for all the Muppets taught me much [about] how to be a good person and successful human being in every way, giving back to the world to make it a better place, and to assume a queer positive role in terms of masculinity that could still be sensitive and compassionate but strong without having to perform negative macho John Wayne stereotypes we had in my generation.”