The estate of Pop art icon Tom Wesselmann has collaborated with Japanese American artist Tomokazu Matsuyama for a unique exhibition in Wesselmann's East Village studio. The show, featuring seven works by Wesselmann and five by Matsuyama, runs until September 27 and offers a rare look at Wesselmann’s workspace, filled with personal artefacts.

Matsuyama’s works, created especially for the exhibit, draw on Wesselmann’s earlier pieces, with Matsuyama’s more overtly detailed and referencing style standing out. One striking comparison is between Wesselmann’s 1963 still life and Matsuyama’s modern take on consumer culture, seen in the supermarket setting.

Both artists have strong market presences, with Matsuyama achieving auction highs and Wesselmann’s works fetching significant prices. The collaboration highlights how Wesselmann’s appropriation of historical art and consumer culture influenced Matsuyama’s work, leading to a deeper dive into his predecessor's extensive research.

The exhibition, supported by gallery Almine Rech, includes two works from Wesselmann’s “Bedroom Paintings” series, which Matsuyama finds particularly relevant given the highly personal nature of the studio space. Matsuyama was inspired by the openness of American domestic spaces, contrasting with the more private nature in his native Japan.

Though the exhibition is currently limited to Wesselmann’s studio, the gallery has left the door open for future travel, calling it an exciting new way to experience art.