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.

Irving Blum
Gallerist

Irving Blum with Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans

Irving Blum with Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1962. Photo by William Claxton. Courtesy Demont Photo Management, LLC.

Shortly after arriving in L.A. in 1957, Irving Blum (born 1930) took over Edward Kienholz’s share of the Ferus Gallery. As an art advisor at the Knoll furniture company in New York, Blum had amassed an impressive contact list and he was known as a charming and savvy businessman. He spearheaded the Ferus Gallery’s shift towards a more commercial operation, with new premises and a more exclusive roster. When Ferus closed in 1966, he operated the Irving Blum Gallery until his departure for New York City in 1972.

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Explore the Archive

  • Video: the postwar L.A. gallery scene

    Video: Making the Scene—find out about the L.A. gallery scene during the postwar years

  • Video: Irving Blum and Billy Al Bengston on John Altoon

    Video: Irving Blum and Billy Al Bengston speak about the work of John Altoon, 2010-11

  • Video: Peter Voulkos

    Video: Irving Blum, John Mason, and Billy Al Bengston speak about the work of Peter Voulkos, 2010–11

  • Poster for The Studs group exhibition

    Poster for The Studs group exhibition at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1964. Image courtesy of Hal Glicksman

  • Artists outside the Ferus Gallery

    Artists outside the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1959. Clockwise from top: Billy Al Bengston, Irving Blum, Ed Moses, and John Altoon. Photo by William Claxton. Courtesy Demont Photo Management, LLC.