2013
Indisputably one of the most iconic American artists of the 20th century, Ed Ruscha has built a formidable body of work by staking a claim on the deceptively simple intersection of text and image, superimposing elliptical phrases (or, often, single words) over West Coast landscapes to create prints and paintings that can be read instantaneously yet evade easy understanding.
Alongside artists like Robert Irwin and Billy Al Bengston, Ruscha was a pioneer of the 1960s Los Angeles art scene as part of the famed Ferus Gallery. His embrace of Hollywood vernacular and the open Western road have tied him as closely to the identity of L.A. art as Jackson Pollock is to that of New York.
Coming to California in 1956 at the age of 18, Ruscha intended to become a commercial painter but found himself drawn to fine art, over time being shaped by three galvanizing influences: Marcel Duchamp, Pop art and the movies.
Meeting Duchamp when the Pasadena Art Museum (now the Norton Simon Museum) hosted the French Conceptual artist's first U.S. show, Ruscha was especially affected by his use of "readymade" objects and imagery, rendered unfamiliar through unexpected titles or text. Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup can paintings, meanwhile, were shown for the first time at the Ferus Gallery in 1962, opening up new vistas for Ruscha. Movies, then, provided another inspiration through their use of title cards, placing graphic text over filmic shots — The End, for instance — for maximum impact.
Ruscha began his famous series of word paintings in the 1960s, depicting various views of the Hollywood sign and the logos of studios like 20th Century Fox, but also roadside views like the Standard Oil stations dotting L.A.'s freeways. Over time these became more abstracted, pinning ambiguous, free-floating phrases (Wall Rockets is a famous example) to natural vistas, scenes of highways, or monochrome backgrounds. Beginning in about 1980, the artist began using a sharp font he designed himself, called Boy Scout Utility Modern.
A master printmaker who also works across the mediums of books, drawing, photography and even film — in 2009 he starred in a movie directed by the artist Doug Aitken — Ruscha has been an influence on a staggering array of artists, including Stephen Shore, Christopher Wool and Anselm Kiefer.
Ruscha's work has been featured in dozens of exhibitions around the world, including "Ed Ruscha: 50 Years of Painting" at London's Hayward Gallery (2009), "Ed Ruscha: Made in Los Angeles" at Madrid's Reina Sofia in 2002, a 2000 retrospective at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, a survey of his works-on-paper at the J. Paul Getty Museum in 1998, and a 1982 retrospective that traveled to the Whitney Museum. In 2005 he represented the United States at the 51st Venice Biennale, and in 2009 he received a National Arts Award.
Find a collection of original Ed Ruscha lithographs and other art for sale on 1stDibs.
$870
H 35 in W 29 in
LAUTREAMONTS Signed Serigraph, Luxury Storefront, Filigree Door, Klimt Nudes
By David Farrell
Located in Union City, NJ
LAUTREAMONTS is an original hand drawn serigraph/screenprint by the artist David Farrell, printed on heavyweight archival printmaking paper 100% acid free. LAUTREAMONTS portrays a lu...
Screen
$2,650
H 26.75 in W 31.5 in
PRINCES KEPT THE VIEW Signed Lithograph, Mediterranean Cliffside Villa, Moon
By Jim Buckels
Located in Union City, NJ
PRINCES KEPT THE VIEW is an original limited edition lithograph printed using hand drawn lithography techniques on archival Arches printmaking paper, 100% acid free, by the Iowa born artist Jim Buckels. PRINCES KEPT THE VIEW presents a finely detailed fantasy landscape scene depicting a Mediterranean cliff-side villa beside a moonlit lake featuring classic architectural details including terracotta roof tiles, off-white stucco walls, stone balustrade balconies and stone walled terraces. The highly sought-after, limited edition lithograph - PRINCES KEPT THE VIEW was printed in shades of aqua, light blue, green, terracotta, beige, taupe gray, black and white creating a calm, yet mysterious ambience. PRINCES KEPT THE VIEW is a beautifully detailed, picturesque Mediterranean landscape any fantasy traveler would love to explore. Print size - 26.75." x 31.5" Large off square size, impressive handcrafted limited edition lithograph, unframed, excellent condition, hand signed in pencil by Jim Buckels Edition size - 350, plus proofs Year published - 1990 Printer - J K Fine Art Editions Co. NY JIM BUCKELS Artist statement- "On one level, I think of myself as a decorative artisan, or at best a scene painter. I don't mind this distinction, because many of my heroes never achieved much more. It's a modest but honorable aspiration. The artists who have influenced me are quite dissimilar and usually less prominent in the pantheon of art history: Canaletto, the Flemish scene painters, the Hudson River artists...
Screen
$193
H 10.63 in W 9.85 in
Clare Halifax, A New York Minute, American Art, Affordable Art
By Clare Halifax
Located in Deddington, GB
Clare Halifax A New York Minute Limited Edition 6 Colour Silkscreen Print Edition of 30 Image size 22x22cm Sheet Size: H 27 x W 25cm x D 0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that in situ ...
Paper, Screen
Summer in the South East
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Christopher Pratt (1935-2022) is one of Canada’s most prolific and recognizable Maritime artists. Born in St. John's, Pratt has dedicated the majority of his artistic practice to d...
Screen
Moonscape
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in New York, NY
Created after Roy Lichtenstein's iconic Moonscape Banner (1966), this folded screenprint on wove cardstock was published by Multiples, Inc. (New York) in 1969, and would later be use...
Screen
$10,000
H 37.5 in W 29.5 in
Flaps 12-color screen print by Robert Rauschenberg Edition 36 of 52
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in Boca Raton, FL
12-color screen print on deckle edge paper of a collage of Moroccan street scenes including an orange stand, umbrellas, a motorcycle shop and a F...
Screen
Big Brother City
By Shepard Fairey
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A print by Shepard Fairey. “Big Brother City” is a contemporary, popular culture offset print on paper in black, red, and white by American street artist Shepard Fairey. The artwork ...
Screen
$26,000
H 24.75 in W 34.75 in
Roy Lichtenstein Pop Art Screenprint, 1969, Framed, "Haystack #4"
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Roy Lichtenstein Title: Haystack #4 Portfolio: Haystack Medium: Lithograph and screenprint on Rives BFK paper Year: 1969 Edition: AP VII Frame Size: 24 3/4" x 34 3/4" Sheet S...
Lithograph, Screen
$300Sale Price|22% Off
H 11 in W 11.5 in
AURORA'S GARLAND Signed Serigraph, Architectural Landscape, Moon, Lamp Post
By Jim Buckels
Located in Union City, NJ
AURORA'S GARLAND is an imaginary architectural landscape that combines the real and the surreal. Created in 1995 by the Iowa born artist Jim Buckels (b.1948) known for his dream-like images, rendered in a meticulous, modern airbrush technique. This limited edition screenprint was printed using hand silk screen printing techniques on heavyweight archival printmaking paper, very fine details superb quality craftsmanship. AURORA'S GARLAND presents the viewer with a dreamlike metaphysical landscape luxuriant with shades of cool blues, dark greens, grays, beige, pink lavender, magenta pink, yellow, off white and black. A peaceful moonlit garden scene accented by two winged cherub statues in the foreground holding onto a glowing lamp post. An elegant and fanciful, rose tinted French maison rendered in a Chiâteauesque architectural style, sets the scene as it stands glowing with light beside a mirror-still pool of water, surrounded by a textural stone wall, precisely trimmed hedges, lush leafy trees, and flowering shrubbery. AURORA'S GARLAND creates a fairytale ambience reminiscent of the magical works of the renowned 1920's illustrator Maxfield Parrish. 11 " x 11.5" print size, unframed, excellent condition, signed in gold ink pen...
Screen
$333
H 14.97 in W 20.08 in D 0.04 in
Anna Harley, Nämforsen, Landscape river art, contemporary handmade print
By Anna Harley
Located in Deddington, GB
Nämforsen by Anna Harley [2022] limited_edition screenprint Edition number 30 Image size: H:38 cm x W:51 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:38 cm x W:51...
Paper, Screen
City - Lithograph, Print, Reverspective, Contemporary Art, Patrick Hughes
By Patrick Hughes
Located in London, GB
Hand-painted multiple with lithography. Signed in pencil, inscribed 'Proof', a proof aside from the edition of 40. In a perspex presentation box. Published by Flowers Gallery, Lon...
Lithograph
New York Times Leisure Section - print linocut contemporary art waterscape
By Derek Boshier
Located in London, GB
Signed, dated and titled in pencil. Inscribed 'AP', an artist's proof aside from the edition of 65.
Linocut
USA Distances - Paula Scher, Maps, Screenprint, Contemporary Art
By Paula Scher
Located in London, GB
Signed in pencil, numbered from the edition of 150. Printed by Alexander Heinrici, New York. Published by ARTContent Editions Limited, Vancouver.
Screen
Berlin - Paula Scher, Maps, Screenprint, Contemporary Art
By Paula Scher
Located in London, GB
Signed in pencil, numbered from the edition of 150. Printed by Alexander Heinrici, New York. Published by ARTContent Editions Limited, Vancouver.
Screen
London - Paula Scher, Maps, Screenprint, Contemporary Art
By Paula Scher
Located in London, GB
Signed in pencil, numbered from the edition of 150. Printed by Alexander Heinrici, New York. Published by ARTContent Editions Limited, Vancouver.
Screen
World Trade Routes - Paula Scher, Maps, Screenprint, Contemporary Art
By Paula Scher
Located in London, GB
Signed in pencil, numbered from the edition of 150. Printed by Alexander Heinrici, New York. Published by ARTContent Editions Limited, Vancouver.
Screen
