Ed Ruscha: Paintings (Rome)

This book was published on the occasion of Ed Ruscha: Paintings at Gagosian, Rome. The exhibition featured ten paintings in which Ruscha’s signature elements are combined with the visual devices and refined atmosphere of old master paintings to present a dystopian perspective on the classic road trip. In Gators (2014), meticulously rendered images of shredded tires float against a blank white background, while in Bliss Bucket (2014), a mattress with rumpled bedding lies beneath a giant musical bar with treble clef, foreshortened to add depth and perspective. The bilingual (English/Italian) catalogue reproduces the ten paintings in color along with installation photographs. An essay by Alex Kitnick and an interview with the artist by Bob Monk further illuminate the project’s genesis and themes. - Hardcover - 56 pages, 13.5 x 9.75 x .25 inch - Published 2015