Contemporary artist Ed Ruscha, part of the 20th century pop art movement, first gained notoriety for his use of phrases and text in his paintings. Born in Kansas and raised in Oklahoma City, he set out for Los Angeles as a young man, where he still lives and creates. So, it’s no surprise that many aspects of Hollywood and Southern California are both very prominent influences in his work, from the logos of famous studios, to the landscapes of the region. When he was getting his start, like many of his contemporaries, Ruscha worked professionally in commercial art and the magazine industry, adopting the nom de plume ‘Eddie Russia.’ While, as an artist, he is most well-known for his paintings and photographs, Ruscha has also dabbled in film and documentaries, as well as sculpture art.
