Edward Ruscha
(American, b. 1937)
America Whistles, from the portfolio America: The Third Century, 1976
Lithograph; 30 x 22 inches
Acquired in 1981
With fragments of Dada, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, Edward Ruscha’s artwork includes paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, books, and films. His work catapulted Pop art from the highlighting of the universal ordinary to a geographically intrinsic cultural context. In his hands, Pop becomes personal. Many of his works contain text, like American Whistles, but rather than simply painting a word Ruscha purposely chooses fonts that elevate emotions to match the meaning behind his work. Ruscha’s works are collected by prestigious museums and galleries across the United States. His way of skewing everyday objects spurs viewers to look at the ordinary in a new light. Common motifs within consumer culture or his font-specific words elevated as objects have attained him an iconic status. His work captures the current cultural climate in which he is creating art.
This portfolio of prints demonstrates the depth and breadth of art making in 1976 America. Commissioned for the 1976 celebration of the American Bicentennial, it includes works by James Rosenquist, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Allan D’Arcangelo, William Bailey, Christo, James Brooks, Costantino Nivola, Velox Ward, Raymond Saunders, Robert Andrew Parker, and Ben Schonzeit.
Location
University of Houston
Computing Center