Mark Grotjahn's 50 Kitchens series, showcased for the first time at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) from May 20 to August 19, 2018, represents a profound exploration of color, form, and perspective that has characterized his work since 2002. This series is a continuation of Grotjahn's renowned "Butterfly" compositions, inspired by a singular piece that Grotjahn created to fit the specific dimensions of a wall in his kitchen. The series consists of over fifty chromatic drawings, each exploring pairs of radiating colors, such as Tuscan Red and Chartreuse or Grass Green and Canary Yellow, to create a mesmerizing prismatic effect​ (LACMA)​​ (Gagosian)​​ (Gagosian)​.

Grotjahn's work in this series reflects his interest in color, light, and optics, nodding to artists like Wassily Kandinsky and the Op art movement of the 1960s. The 50 Kitchens series also incorporates elements from previous drawings, integrating them into new compositions to deepen the interplay of form and color. This body of work demonstrates Grotjahn's ability to blend the gestural with the geometric, merging the dynamism of abstract expressionism with the discipline of formalist structure. The presentation of these works at LACMA marked a significant moment in Grotjahn's career, offering a comprehensive view of his ongoing investigation into symmetry, perspective, and the transformative power of paint​ (LACMA)​​ (Gagosian)​.