ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN is a comprehensive retrospective of the artist’s work that is taking place at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibition is curated in harmonious partnership with Ed Ruscha to reflect his multi-faceted artistry.
ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN is the first solo show at the Museum to showcase over 200 artworks in a variety of media, from painting to drawing, printmaking, artist’s books, and installation. The exhibition will take visitors on a journey through Ruscha’s career, with artworks displayed in a non-linear chronology to provide a fresh perspective on one of the most influential figures in postwar American art.
The exhibition includes seldom-seen artworks that unveil Ed Ruscha’s fascination with ordinary sights, such as roadside architecture, consumer goods, and public signage that he has explored during his travels throughout the United States and Europe. One of the most significant works in the show, and for Ruscha’s career, is Chocolate Room, 1970, which is now being shown to the discerning eyes of the New York public for the first time. Originally created for the 35th Venice Biennale in 1970, this multisensory, single-room installation demonstrates the artist’s use of unexpected materials through its immersive scale and ephemeral nature.
