Ed Ruscha / Now Then

The Nebraska-born, all-American artist Ed Ruscha claims that his muse is the US 66 route between Oklahoma and Los Angeles. His bold paintings of 1960s California, which drew heavily from graphic design, captured the spirit of the post-war United States. Today, the 85-year-old Ruscha continues to cast his eye over the nation, albeit one much changed – as is revealed through more than 200 works at the Museum of Modern Art, New York (10 September–13 January 2024). Highlights include early works such as Twentysix Gasoline Stations (1963), which is often considered to be the first artist’s book, and the painting Large Trademark with Eight Spotlights (1962). More recent works include Our Flag (2017), a six-by-12 foot painting of a tattered American flag that appears to be disintegrating in the wind. Find out more on the MoMA’s website.