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Edward Ruscha (American, b.1937)

Part of the Contemporary American Graphics Collection

Ed Ruscha combines technical virtuosity as a draftsman with sophisticated wit to create works often of the same image in a variety of media: painting, drawing, and printmaking. Although his use of commercial art techniques as well as his choice of subjects—a can of Spam, a gas station, the famous Hollywood sign—makes Ruscha’s art easily identifiable as Pop, it is in fact descended from Surrealism. He has said, “I’m always looking at ways to concoct new things. I use different elements, and I feel I have to surprise myself, while at the same time staying faithful to my art.”