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.

Rolf Nelson Gallery (1963–64)

Announcement, George Herms "Nativity '63"

Announcement for George Herms exhibition Nativity '63 at Rolf Nelson gallery in Los Angeles, 1963. © George Herms. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Michael Asher, 2009.M.30.9

Rolf Nelson operated his gallery at three different locations on La Cienega Boulevard throughout the 1960s. After a brief stint operating the Dilexi Gallery, Nelson opened his eponymous gallery at its first location in 1963, where he showed work by Llyn Foulkes, Ed Bereal, and Joe Goode, as well as Fluxus artists Robert Watts and Alison Knowles.

Historic Map Locations

Works of Art

  • Torn Cloud Painting 73

    Torn Cloud Painting 73, 1972, Joe Goode. Oil on canvas. 72 x 96 in. Collection of Joe Goode & Hiromi Katayama. © Joe Goode

  • The Librarian

    The Librarian, 1960, George Herms. Wooden box, papers, books, loving cup, and painted stool. 57 x 63 x 21 in. Norton Simon Museum, Gift of Molly Barnes. © George Herms

  • Flanders

    Flanders, 1961–62, Llyn Foulkes. Mixed media. 54 x 36 x 14 in. and 16 x 15 3/4 in. Collection of Ernest & Eunice White. © Llyn Foulkes. Photo © Douglas M. Parker Studio

  • Car Hood

    Car Hood, 1964, Judy Chicago. Sprayed acrylic lacquer on Corvair car hood. 42 15/16 x 49 3/16 x 4 5/16 in. Moderna Museet, Stockholm. Acquired 2007 with means from The Second Museum of our Wishes. © Judy Chicago, 1964. Photo © Donald Woodman

  • Big Blue Pink from the Flesh Gardens series

    Big Blue Pink from the Flesh Gardens series, 1971, Judy Chicago. Sprayed acrylic lacquer on acrylic. 96 in x 96 in. Tom Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles. © Judy Chicago, 1971. Photo © Donald Woodman

  • American Beauty

    American Beauty, 1965, Ed Bereal. Metal, paint, tree branch. 50 x 31 x 12 in. Collection of Betty & Monte Factor. © Ed Bereal. Photo by Larry Hirshowitz

Explore the Archive

  • Video: Judy Chicago

    Video: Judy Chicago speaks about her work, April 2011

  • Video: George Herms

    Video: George Herms speaks about his work, March 2011

  • Video: Joe Goode

    Video: Joe Goode speaks about his work, March 2011

  • Judy Chicago and Sunset Squares installation

    Judy Gerowitz, also known as Judy Chicago, with her Sunset Squares installation at Rolf Nelson Gallery in Los Angeles, 1966. © 2011 Judy Chicago / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Rolf G. Nelson, 2010.M.38. Image courtesy of Jerry McMillan and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica. © Jerry McMillan

  • Announcement, Come and See exhibition

    Announcement for the exhibition Come and See at the Rolf Nelson Gallery in Los Angeles, June 14–July 23, 1965. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Rolf G. Nelson, 2010.M.38.1

  • Hard Edge group exhibition

    Hard Edge group exhibition with works by Ronald Davis and Judy Chicago at Rolf Nelson Gallery in Los Angeles, May 1964. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Rolf G. Nelson, 2010.M.38.2