Explore the Era

Delve into the postwar Los Angeles art world in this online archive, which provides additional material related to the exhibitions on view at the Getty Center. Learn about hipsters and happenings, and the venues across the city where all the action took place through images from the archives and first-hand accounts with the artists.

From the Archive

De Wain Valentine in His Studio

De Wain Valentine in his Venice studio with one of his eight-foot Circle polyester pieces, 1970s. Artwork © De Wain Valentine. Photo © Harry Drinkwater

Historic Map Locations

Works of Art

  • Red Concave Circle

    Red Concave Circle, 1970, De Wain Valentine. Cast polyester resin. 96 x 96 x 12 in. Bank of America Collection. © De Wain Valentine. Photo: Harry Drinkwater

  • Gray Column

    Gray Column, 1975–76, De Wain Valentine. Polyester resin. 140 x 87 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. Lent by De Wain Valentine. Artwork © De Wain Valentine

Explore the Archive

  • Video: Getty Conservation Institute and Valentine's 'Gray Column'

    Video: Learn about the research and activities of the Getty Conservation Institute that went into the planning of the exhibition From Start to Finish: De Wain Valentine's Gray Column.

  • Video: Pristine surfaces on De Wain Valentine's sculptures

    Video: Surface Matters—learn about the role of and upkeep for the pristine surfaces on De Wain Valentine's sculptures through the work of the Getty Conservation Institute.

  • Video: MasKast Resin, developed by De Wain Valentine

    Video: MasKast Resin, the polyester developed by De Wain Valentine to create his large-scale sculptures, is explored by the Getty Conservation Institute.

  • Video: De Wain Valentine and the L.A. Art Scene

    Video: De Wain Valentine and the L.A. Art Scene in the 1960s and 70s is explored by the Getty Conservation Institute.

  • De Wain Valentine in his Venice studio

    De Wain Valentine in his Venice studio. Photo: © Cathy Weiner

  • Slideshow: De Wain Valentine's 'Circle' series

    Slideshow: Documentation of De Wain Valentine‘s Circle series of polyester resin circles, 1960s. Artwork © De Wain Valentine. Photo © Harry Drinkwater

  • De Wain Valentine and studio assistants

    De Wain Valentine and two of his studio assistants, Chris D'Arcangelo (left) and Keith Anderson (right), 1975–76. Photo © Cathy Weiner

  • Rani Singh, Jack Brogan, and De Wain Valentine's Red Concave Circle

    Rani Singh of the Getty Research Institute and Jack Brogan, conservator, inspect De Wain Valentine's Red Concave Circle in Brogan's studio in Inglewood, California, June 17, 2011. © De Wain Valentine