ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Landès Lewitin: Forgotten Abstract Expressionist Gets New Life in LA Restaurant and AI Archive

artist · 2026-08-17

Landès Lewitin, an artist from the Lower East Side and a contemporary of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, is experiencing a resurgence thanks to a restaurant in Los Angeles and an AI-driven archive. A founding member of The Club, established in 1949, Lewitin was celebrated for his vibrant colors and cross-cultural influences. In 2019, his great-nephews, Albert and Lawrence Lewitinn, inherited approximately 1,000 pieces of his work. Currently, eight of these pieces are showcased at Jacaranda, a restaurant that opened in May 2026, founded by Sarah Lewitinn and chef Daniel Patterson, featuring designs by Preen that enhance the intimate setting. Additionally, Lawrence is creating an AI-based archive for Lewitin's sketches and has launched the Landès Lewitin Foundation to ensure preservation and accessibility.

Key facts

  • Landès Lewitin was a contemporary of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning and a charter member of The Club, founded in 1949 in Greenwich Village.
  • In 2019, his great-nephews Albert and Lawrence Lewitinn inherited about 1,000 of his works.
  • Eight of Lewitin's works are displayed at Jacaranda, a Los Angeles restaurant on Melrose Avenue, which opened in May 2026.
  • Jacaranda is owned by Sarah Lewitinn (great-niece) and her husband, chef Daniel Patterson.
  • The restaurant's design was by Preen, a Los Angeles-based hospitality design firm, founded by Alexis Readinger.
  • Preen recently made the 2026 Prix Versailles 'World’s 16 Most Beautiful Restaurants' list with Lucia, another LA restaurant.
  • Lewitin's work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
  • Lawrence Lewitinn is building an AI-native archive for Lewitin's works and has established the non-profit Landès Lewitin Foundation.

Entities

Artists

  • Landès Lewitin
  • Jackson Pollock
  • Willem de Kooning
  • Sarah Lewitinn
  • Albert Lewitinn
  • Lawrence Lewitinn
  • Daniel Patterson
  • Alexis Readinger

Institutions

  • The Club
  • Jacaranda
  • Preen
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • Landès Lewitin Foundation
  • Coi
  • Lucia
  • New York Times
  • Los Angeles Times

Locations

  • Lower East Side
  • Greenwich Village
  • Los Angeles
  • Melrose Avenue
  • San Francisco
  • New York City

Sources