Ed Ruscha

Ed Ruscha (born 1937) is an American artist known for his text-based paintings, prints, and photography that explore themes of language, pop culture, and the American landscape. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he moved to Los Angeles to study at the Chouinard Art Institute (now CalArts) and became a key figure in the Pop Art and conceptual art movements. Ruscha gained recognition for his word paintings and iconic depictions of gas stations, such as Standard Station (1966). His work has been exhibited in major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In 2004, the Whitney Museum hosted a major retrospective, Ed Ruscha: Cotton Puffs, Q-Tips®, Smoke and Mirrors. His large-scale survey, Ed Ruscha / Now Then, was exhibited at MoMA in 2023. Ruscha’s influence extends across contemporary art, design, and typography. He continues to create, maintaining his status as one of the most significant artists of his generation.