Quintessentially Southern Californian

“Throughout his career, photography has played an important role in Ruscha’s exploration of the vernacular architecture, urban landscape, and car culture of Los Angeles. Gas stations and apartment buildings are among the quintessentially Southern Californian motifs that feature in his work. The photographs made in conjunction with his photo books of the early 1960s give viewers the opportunity to share his enthusiasm for the logos, signage, and language that enliven Southern California architecture.”

--Virginia Heckert, curator in the Department of Photographs at the Getty Museum, and co-curator of the exhibition In Focus: Ed Ruscha, now on view at the Getty Center through September.

Image: Standard, Amarillo, Texas, 1962, Ed Ruscha, gelatin silver print. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 2011.54.9. © Ed Ruscha.