ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Ed Ruscha's Conceptual Photo-Books Inspire Exhibition and Publication at Gagosian

exhibition · 2026-04-20

So, Ed Ruscha created some groundbreaking photo books back in the 1960s and 1970s, like Twentysix Gasoline Stations from 1962 and Every Building on the Sunset Strip from 1966. These works, featuring black-and-white shots of everyday spots like gas stations from L.A. to Oklahoma, really changed the game for artist books. They even inspired other artists, such as Jeff Brouws with his 1992 work Twentysix Abandoned Gasoline Stations. Right now, there's an exhibition at Gagosian in New York showcasing Ruscha's original pieces alongside related texts. Plus, MIT is releasing a book that lists about 90 of the nearly 100 inspired by him. Don’t miss Ruscha’s live talk with Paul Holdengräber on March 6, 2024, at 7 PM at the New York Public Library!

Key facts

  • Ed Ruscha created conceptual photo-books in the 1960s and 1970s, starting with Twentysix Gasoline Stations in 1962.
  • His books feature black-and-white images of mundane subjects, such as gasoline stations on Route 66 between Los Angeles and Oklahoma.
  • Ruscha's works inspired other artists, including Jeff Brouws's Twentysix Abandoned Gasoline Stations (1992) and Doro Boehme and Erik Baskauskas's Various Blank Pages (2009).
  • An exhibition at Gagosian displays Ruscha's original books and related publications, with most works available for browsing.
  • The exhibition coincides with the MIT publication Various Small Books: Referencing Various Small Books by Ed Ruscha, covering about 90 response books.
  • Ed Ruscha will be in live conversation with Paul Holdengräber at the New York Public Library on March 6, 2024, at 7 PM.
  • Ruscha's books altered the aesthetic of artist books and emphasized their physicality over digital formats.
  • The exhibition and publication highlight the ongoing impact of Ruscha's photo-books on contemporary art and publishing.

Entities

Artists

  • Ed Ruscha
  • Jeff Brouws
  • Doro Boehme
  • Erik Baskauskas
  • Paul Holdengräber

Institutions

  • Gagosian
  • MIT
  • New York Public Library

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • Los Angeles
  • Oklahoma
  • Route 66

Sources