Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and began his journey as a documentarian. While living in Livermore, California, in the late 1960s, he worked as a photographer for the local newspaper. He became increasingly interested in the suburban areas that became heavily populated after WWII.
Owens started photographing middle-class America and would eventually publish a best-selling book, Suburbia, in 1972. Suburbia is considered one of the most important photography books to date. He went on to publish three more books, Our Kind of People, Working and Leisure, focusing on the suburbanites of America.
Owens was the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, which he received in 1976.
Between working commercially and on personal photographic projects, he opened a brewery in California in 1983 and became so enamored with craft beer that he founded the American Distilling Institute and American Brewer magazine.
The photographs of Bill Owens are highly sought after and can be found in private and public collections such as the Getty Museum, Modern Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art.
Find Bill Owens photography on 1stDibs.
Do Coke, Los Angeles, CA
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"After work we change clothes, redo our makeup, do some coke and go dancing." Edition of 10 Signed and numbered in black ink on print verso. Bill Owens was born and raised...
C Print
One Day Our Toilet Broke
By Bill Owens
Located in New York, NY
Bill Owens Before the dissolution of our marriage my husband and I owned a bar. One day a toilet broke and we brought it home, 1971 Print Paper Size: 13 x 17 inches Print Image Size...
Archival Pigment
We really enjoy getting together, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"We really enjoy getting together with our friends to drink and dance. It's a wild party and we're having a great time." from series, Suburbia Edition of 15 Signed, dated and number...
Silver Gelatin
We don't have to conform, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 10 Signed on print verso by Bill Owens Paper size: 16 x 19 1/2 in. Image size: 15 1/2 x 18 3/4 in. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After v...
C Print
$3,500Sale Price|39% Off
Christina's Room
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"I wanted Christina to learn some responsibility for cleaning her room, but it didn't work." Edition of 15 Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Signed, numbered, and dated in pencil wi...
Silver Gelatin
Kens SC, CA, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 10 Signed, numbered, and print date. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and beg...
C Print
We're not doing too badly, CA, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 10 Signed and numbered in black ink on print verso. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up phot...
Color
Parade Woman Holding American Flag, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed, dated and numbered. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and began his...
Silver Gelatin
McDonald's Modern Day Care Center, from Leisure series
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"McDonald's modern day care center keeps the boys out of my hair and lets me have a moment to myself. Kansas City, MO", 1976 Edition 7/15 Signed and artist stamps. Printed 2007 Serie...
Silver Gelatin
Untitled (Overview of cul-de-sac)
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Signed, print date, misc. notation in pencil on verso. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography ...
Silver Gelatin
Before the Dissolution of our Marriage, from the series, Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Gelatin Silver Print 14 × 11 in. Ed. of 15 Signed, numbered, dated in pencil with artist stamp in black ink on verso From the series, Suburbia “Before the dissolution of our marriag...
Silver Gelatin
Untitled (Driveway) - Black and White Landscape, Suburban, Neighborhood
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Untitled (Driveway) by Bill Owens presents a tranquil scene. A long driveway leads up to a house in a suburban neighborhood. Two trash cans sit in front of the garage. The garage doo...
Silver Gelatin
Every summer we go all out on our camp in Yosemite, from Leisure
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"Every summer we go all out on our camp in Yosemite. I do the barbequing" Edition of 15 Signed, dated, and numbered by Bill Owens Gelatin silver print 16 x 20 in. Series: Leisure Bi...
Silver Gelatin
$3,500Sale Price|39% Off
We're Really Happy, from Suburbia series
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home." Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Signed, print date, misc. notation in pencil on vers...
Silver Gelatin
Its a great pleasure to watch yourself make love
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Its a great pleasure to watch yourself make love, 1971 Gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 in. Signed, artist stamp, and numbered. Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volu...
Silver Gelatin
My dad thinks it's a good idea
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"My dad thinks it's a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and take up the yard. I think he is crazy." Edition of 15 Signed, numbered, and artist stamp...
Silver Gelatin
New Suburbia, Hayward (Weed Wacker), from New Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 5 Signed, titled, and numbered in black ink on print verso. Series: New Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he pi...
Digital Pigment
I bought the lawn
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"I bought the lawn in six-foot rolls. It's easy to handle. I prepare the ground and my wife and son helped roll out the grass. in one day you have a front yard." Edition of 15 Signed...
Silver Gelatin
Nixon on TV by Bill Owens, 1971, Silver Gelatin Print, Photography
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Nixon on TV by Bill Owens presents a living room scene. An image of Richard Nixon is frozen mid speech on the television screen. A framed print of Vase with Twelve Sunflowers by Vinc...
Silver Gelatin
When school is out we sunbathe all day and dance all night
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"When school is out we sunbathe all day and dance all night." Edition of 15 Signed, dated, and numbered on print verso by Bill Owens Gelatin silver p...
Silver Gelatin
Bill Owens: Suburbia Portfolio (15 photographs)
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Bill Owens Portfolio A selection of fifteen photographs from the series, Suburbia Edition of 15 Each photograph is signed and numbered in pencil with artist stamp in black ink on pri...
Silver Gelatin
We like to play war, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
We like to play war, 1971 Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Edition of 15 Stamped in ink, signed, numbered, and dated in pencil on verso by Bill Owens Series: Suburbia Bill Owens wa...
Silver Gelatin
Sunday Afternoon, from Suburbia series
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks and my wife makes the salad." Edition of 15 Signed, numbered, and artist stamp. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and rais...
Silver Gelatin
Prada, Manhattan, New Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 5 Signed, titled, and numbered. Series: New Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and bega...
Digital Pigment
Untitled (Woman Vacuuming), from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed, dated and numbered. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and began his...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Walmart
By Bill Owens
Located in New York, NY
Chromogenic print Signed, verso This photograph is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
C Print
Price Upon Request
New Suburbia, Hayward (Two Balls)
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed, titled and numbered. Series: New Suburbia, Hayward Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography...
Digital Pigment
$3,808
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Spot the Ball, 1960 - Polo Match at Myopia Club in Hamilton Massachusetts in USA
By Slim Aarons
Located in Brighton, GB
Spot the Ball, 1960 - Polo Match at Myopia Club in Hamilton Massachusetts in USA by Slim Aarons 16 x 20" print. Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print. Edition of 150. Printed Later. ...
Photographic Paper, Color, C Print, Digital
Uffizi, Florence, Italy
By Massimo Listri
Located in New York City, NY
Massimo Listri Unframed Chromogenic Print Available sizes: 40 x 48 inches 100 x 120 cm Edition of 5 48 x 60 inches 120 x 150 cm Edition of 5 71 x 88.5 inches 180 x 225 cm Editi...
Photographic Paper, C Print
$1,632
H 24 in W 17 in
Swinging Sixties – Twiggy, Surrey, May, 1967 Limited Edition
By David Steen
Located in London, GB
Swinging Sixties – Twiggy, Surrey, May, 1967 Limited Edition Limited Edition David Steen Estate Print Limited Edition: All prints are limited editions, no further prints are produ...
C Print, Color
$5,500
H 16 in W 13 in D 2 in
Portrait of a Man, Mid-Century Black & White Photograph by Edward Weston
By Edward Weston
Located in Soquel, CA
Rare black and white photograph, a portrait of a handsome man by Edward Henry Weston (March 24, 1886 – January 1, 1958). Signed "EW 1949" lo...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$4,900
H 18.25 in W 17 in D 0.1 in
Denise Hustling, outside of Homestead Cade, Providence, RI
By Jeffrey Silverthorne
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 12 Signed, titled, dated, print type, and numbered. Archival pigment print Paper size: 18 1/4 x 17 in., Image size: 16 x 16 in. Jeffrey Silverthorne was an American photo...
Archival Pigment
$1,125
H 16 in W 12 in
Kate Moss At 16 - signed limited edition print
By Jake Chessum
Located in London, GB
An Unknown Kate Moss At 16 by Jake Chessum 1990 limited edition edition size 20 only this size printed 2024 Archival pigment print numbered and signed by the artist unframed ...
Archival Pigment
Madelaine, New York, NY
By Patricia Heal
Located in Hudson, NY
Pictured is Edition #1/10 and is the framed price. This image is available also in the two other paper sizes unframed. British-born photographer Heal creates an image where her ...
C Print
Surfers with their dog at Laguna Beach, 1970
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Surfers with their dog at Laguna Beach, California, January 1970. Slim Aarons Laguna Beach Surfers 1970 C print (Printed later) Estate signature stamped and hand numbered edition of...
C Print
The Bird in Colour No 8 BM
By Nick Veasey
Located in PARIS, FR
Nick Veasey - The Bird in Colour No 8 BM Signed and numbered by artist Lenticular Digital C Print, framed 30.5 x 37.5 cm Edition of 15. Also available as a part of the full set of 9...
C Print, Lenticular
$2,000
H 11 in W 14 in
Jerusalem 1967 Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph Western Wall Kotel Hamaaravi
By Richard Gordon
Located in Surfside, FL
Richard Gordon was born in Chicago in 1945. He studied Political Science at the University of Chicago and did not begin photographing until he worked at a photography studio in 1965....
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Blondie NYC Album Cover Shoot - signed, limited edition
By Martyn Goddard
Located in London, GB
Debbie Harry ( Blondie) New York 1978 - Oversize C print limited edition by Martyn Goddard Signed limited edition of 10 only this size keywords Blondie Debbie Harry Pop art pop music rock punk fashion...
C Print
Blondie NYC Album Cover Shoot - signed, limited edition
By Martyn Goddard
Located in London, GB
Debbie Harry ( Blondie) New York 1978 - Oversize C print limited edition by Martyn Goddard Signed limited edition of 10 only this size keywords Blondie Debbie Harry Pop art pop music rock punk fashion...
C Print
A lot of people say we're chunks of meat
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
A lot of people say we're chunks of meat, 1974 Gelatin silver print 14 x 10 3/4 in. Signed and dated in black ink on margin Bill Owens was born and rai...
Silver Gelatin
Sold
H 8 in W 10 in D 0.1 in
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from Suburbia series
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Artist Proof Signed and numbered in pencil with artist copyright stamp in black ink on print verso. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering...
Silver Gelatin
At Rosie O' Grady's Goodtime Emporium (Disco dancer)
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed, dated, numbered and artist stamp on print verso by Bill Owens Gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 in. Printed 2005 Series: Leisure Bill Owens was born and raised in ...
Silver Gelatin
Our house was built with the living room in back
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed. From Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and began his journey as a documenta...
Silver Gelatin
Sold
H 11 in W 14 in D 0.1 in
Every summer we go all out on our camp in Yosemite, from Leisure
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"Every summer we go all out on our camp in Yosemite. I do the barbequing" Edition of 15 Signed, dated, and numbered. Series: Leisure Bill Owens was born and raised in California. Af...
Silver Gelatin
Hockney Painted This Pool
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition 10 Signed and numbered in black ink on print verso. Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and began hi...
C Print