Giant Robot Biennale 5 Now Open
Giant Robot Biennale 5 is now open at JANM in Little Tokyo.
— photos and story by Christine N. Ziemba
Move over Frieze. The fifth edition of the Giant Robot Biennale opened on Friday night (March 1) at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in L.A.'s Little Tokyo.
The art exhibition, which has recurred since 2007, was once again organized by JANM and Eric Nakamura, founder of Giant Robot — the former magazine and now shop and gallery on Sawtelle Boulevard.
Channeling the Giant Robot ethos, the Biennale highlights an array of Asian and Asian American alternative pop art and culture works, taking inspiration from skateboard culture, comic books, graphic design, and vinyl toy culture.
The opening night featured hundreds of guests waiting in winding lines — JANM is a smaller museum — to see works by artists Sean Chao, Felicia Chiao, Luke Chueh, Giorgiko, James Jean, Taylor Lee, Mike Shinoda, Rain Szeto, and Yoskay Yamamoto and others.
The exhibition spreads across three rooms, with eye-catching works stretching end-to-end. Here are a few of our favorites.
Detail of a print forthcoming book cover for a Giant Robot 30th anniversary book by Felicia Chiao. It pays homage to the store, gallery and its famed Post-It Show | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
This painting Far from Home 2 is an homage to artist Giorgiko's grandmother who spent the last two years of high school living in a Jewish American family’s home in Minnesota, earning her keep because her own family couldn't be kept together. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
These acrylics on canvas, You Are What You Eat, Red Eye and Golden Eye, (l-r) are from Luke Chueh. | Photos: Christine N. Ziemba
This colorful tiger wall tapestry was created by artist James Jean. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
This sculpture/installation is by Yoskay Yamamoto. Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
The Giant Robot Biennale featured works by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, who showed his Fort Minor series for the first time in public. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
Old Giant Robot Magazine covers are also on view at the museum. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
Giant Robot Biennale 5 On view through Sept. 1, 2024 Japanese American National Museum 100 N. Central Ave., downtown L.A. (Little Tokyo) Admission: $9 - $16










