Ed Ruscha - L.C.

Ed Ruscha’s L.C. (1997) is a signed limited edition screenprint on Somerset Velvet paper, measuring 94.2 x 68.8 cm. Created to honor Leo Castelli’s 90th birthday, the work overlays a warm woodgrain illusion with the faint cursive initials “L.C.,” accompanied by a small inset photograph of Castelli in the lower right. This edition of 90, plus artist’s proofs in Roman numerals, is hand-signed, dated, and numbered in pencil. Published by Castelli Graphics, New York, the print captures Ruscha’s iconic blend of text, imagery, and Americana, paying tribute to one of the most influential art dealers of the 20th century.

Ed Ruscha, an American painter and photographer born in 1937 in Omaha, Nebraska, is a seminal figure in contemporary art, known for his exploration of the fluidity of language through his artworks. Although often associated with Pop Art and the Beat Generation, Ruscha’s diverse and innovative body of work, which includes paintings, prints, and photographic artist’s books, defies easy categorization. His distinctive use of text-based imagery and his background in graphic design are evident in his strategic manipulation of typography—using color, layout, and font to transform words into visual art and back again, as Ed Ruscha himself noted, “I like the idea of a word becoming a picture, almost leaving its body, and then coming back and becoming a word again.” Ruscha’s artwork often incorporates unconventional materials such as gunpowder, Pepto Bismol, and even blood, pushing the boundaries of traditional painting and printmaking.

His text-based paintings and fine art prints play with the connotations and perceptions of language, highlighting its impermanence and the clichés prevalent in popular culture. This thematic focus not only challenges the viewer’s understanding of communication but also comments on the ephemeral nature of language and its degradation over time. Ed Ruscha’s influence extends across the art world, impacting a wide range of artists and continuing to provoke thought about the essence of human communication through his innovative use of text and image. His oeuvre, including unique artworks and limited editions, has been celebrated in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York (2023), The National Gallery in London (2018), Museum Brandhorst in Munich (2013), and The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York (2004). Having moved to Los Angeles in 1956, where he still resides, Ruscha’s extensive career continues to inspire and shape the landscape of contemporary art, reinforcing his status as a pivotal artist who has masterfully blended visual art with textual expression.