Ed Ruscha

Meet Ed Ruscha, the American Pop artist who fell in love with gas stations on a road trip to Los Angeles in the 1950s.

My pictures are not that interesting. They are simply a collection of facts.

In the 50s, painting was mainly Minimalist and Abstract, but Ed wasn’t interested. He wanted to paint things and words

Cheese Mold Standard with Olive, 1969

I think I centred on words because, first of all, they have no size. So if I painted the word ‘Boss’ I could paint it that big or I could paint it that big and I like that.

He was not alone in his fascination with modernity. Pop Art was taking hold.

Twentysix Gasoline Stations Place Setting, c.1961

HONK, 1962

Actual Size, 1962



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