Famous Graphic Artists: Ed Ruscha

Curators of a recent National Gallery of Art exhibit billed Ed Ruscha as one of the "most compelling artists of the last forty years." Ruscha employed the use of words, phrases, and typography to evoke movement and feeling in his art. He also drew inspiration from postwar media culture, looking to newspapers, magazines, and books for meaning, rather than to other painters. Ed Ruscha was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1937. He moved to Los Angeles in 1956 with the intention of finishing school and becoming a commercial artist; there he attended graphic art school at the Chouinard Art Institute (now Cal Arts). Ruscha began his career as an artist in the early 1960s when he became known for his minimalist depictions of roadside gas stations and billboards. His later renderings of the 20th Century Fox logo and the Hollywood sign further suggest his deep interest commercial art. Ruscha's "Word" Art Ruscha also uses words in his art, drawing or painting words and phrases such as "Lisp", "Quit", and "Honey, I twisted through more damn traffic today." Reflecting his interest in one of the most important tools of graphic design--typography--he often fashions his words in block-style or calligraphic lettering. An artist whose style is difficult to categorize, Ruscha may not be known strictly as a graphic artist, though his work is heavily influenced by graphic art. Other words used to describe Ruscha's style include pop, minimalist, photo-realist, and conceptualist. Holding true to his reputation as an innovator, Ruscha also uses unconventional materials to create his art, including gunpowder, chocolate syrup, tobacco, vegetable juices, and flower petals. If you've graduated from graphic art school, or aspire to attend graphic art school, you'd probably enjoy viewing Ruscha's work. As an important 20th century American artist, his work is on permanent display at notable museums such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.