Though the name “Ruscha” conjures California cool, the artist is a transplant; he was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1937 and was raised in Oklahoma City. In 1956, he moved westward to attend Chouinard Art Institute (now CalArts), sharing studio space with artists including Joe Goode and Jerry McMillan. Ruscha will return to his Oklahoma roots with a major exhibition in the spring of 2021: As a guest curator, Schwartz will mount “Ed Ruscha: OKLA” at Oklahoma Contemporary. “A lot of the language he uses comes from Midwestern slang,” she said, a detail she’ll explore in her presentation. You can take a Los Angeles–obsessed artist out of the Midwest, etc.
Additional Ed Ruscha: OKLA coverage:
New Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center announces details of landmark exhibit by Oklahoma Cultural Treasure
The Oklahoman
Oklahoma Contemporary wins $25,000 NEA grant for Ed Ruscha exhibition
artdaily.com
Oklahoma art organizations share creative plans for NEA grant funding
The Oklahoman
Oklahoma Contemporary awarded $25,000 grant
The Journal Record
