Downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) is proud to present their last major exhibition of the year ─ The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary group show, featuring new works (from over 70 internationally renowned contemporary artists) inspired by the beloved fantasy film, as well as never-before-seen original film production art (including hundreds of meticulously restored frames) and a pop-up shop offering an array of exclusive merch.
Opening on Saturday, December 17th and presented in partnership with Sweet Streets, The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary group show will reunite fans, old and new, and provide a window into the making of the animated classic, as the exhibition marks the first time in history the film’s original artwork will be on display.
All under the same roof, attendees will get a chance to experience a “behind-the-scenes” look at the film, shop the exclusive 40th anniversary capsule collection, and enjoy new works from a generation of artists inspired by the film’s unique artistry. The show is part of a two-year global celebration in honor of the film’s 40th anniversary and is sponsored by the international animated film society ASIFA-Hollywood, a non-profit dedicated to cultivating and promoting the art, craft, and profession of animation.
Forty years ago, acclaimed author and screenwriter Peter S. Beagle‘s novel, The Last Unicorn, was released as an animated movie. Originally produced by Rankin/Bass and animated by Topcraft studios, the film tells the story of an immortal unicorn, named Amalthea, who learns that she is the last of her kind. Amalthea’s quest to find others like herself takes us on a journey about love, honesty, pain, and fear. The story is a timeless classic rooted in real-life challenges and demands. Set in a stunning animated world with a loveable cast of characters who do not always get what they want, The Last Unicorn lasts forever.
The milestone celebration kicked off in July with the film’s first screening ever at Los Angeles’ David Geffen Theater at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The special event (watch recap here) also featured a post-screening discussion between Beagle and film producer Michael Chase Walker, plus Sweet Streets debuted an exclusive capsule collection at the Academy Museum Store featuring t-shirts, jewelry, skate decks, movie posters, pins, and collaborations from well-known Los Angeles pop culture designer and CHG artist ONCH.
The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary group show artist roster features:
Says show curator and Sweet Streets founder Caro Buermann, “It’s been 40 years since the movie came out and the unicorn’s journey still to this day captures the hearts and minds of fans all over the world. It’s a story that’s still very relevant for me and resonates with so many people because the world in which the unicorn inhabits isn’t this pure, innocent fantasy… her world is very much a messy one, like our own, and I think a lot of people can take away from that in these uncertain times.”
Open to the public and free of charge, The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary group show opens Saturday, December 17th from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm in the Main Gallery, alongside The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary Pop-up Shop in Gallery 2 and The Original Film Production Art of The Last Unicorn in Gallery 3.