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

Wallace Berman and the LAPD Vice Squad

Wallace Berman and the LAPD vice squad at Ferus Gallery, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.8. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

Wallace Berman’s only exhibition at the Ferus Gallery was raided by the LAPD vice squad because he had included a small reproduction of a sexually graphic work by Cameron as part of his assemblage, Temple. Berman was arrested on obscenity charges, tried, and found guilty.  Shortly afterward, he left Los Angeles—which he called “this city of degenerate angels”—and did not return until the early 1960s.

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Exhibition audio: Wallace Berman at Ferus Gallery

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Works of Art

  • Untitled (Verifax Collage)

    Untitled (Verifax Collage), 1969, Wallace Berman. Verifax collage on board. 45 x 48 in. Collection of Michael D. Fox, Berkeley, CA, courtesy Steven Wolf Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles. Photo by Joe Schopplein

  • Untitled (Peyote Vision)

    Untitled (Peyote Vision), 1955, Cameron (from Semina journal, no. 1). Reproduction of ink drawing mounted on cardstock. 3 13/16 x 4 in. Courtesy of Cameron Parsons Foundation

  • Untitled (Faceless Faces with Kabala)

    Untitled (Faceless Faces with Kabala), 1963–70, Wallace Berman. Verifax collage with transfer lettering. 29 7/8 x 28 11/16 in. Collection of Nicole Klagsbrun. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Untitled (Art is Love is God)

    Untitled (Art is Love is God), 1955, Robert Alexander. Wooden box, photograph, bullet, and paper. 3 7/16 x 6 7/16 x 3 5/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin Papers, 2005.M.11.29. Courtesy of the Temple of Man, Inc.

  • Topanga Seed

    Topanga Seed, 1969–70, Wallace Berman. Dolomite rock and transfer letters. 39 x 40 3/4 x 41 in. Collection of the Grinstein Family. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Semina cover with Wife (photograph of Shirley Berman)

    Semina cover with Wife (photograph of Shirley Berman), 1959, Wallace Berman. Semina journal, no. 4 (1959) by Wallace Berman. Halftone reproduction on cardstock. 9 7/16 x 8 x 1/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, 2564-801.no1.2. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Semina cover with photograph of Cameron

    Semina cover with photograph of Cameron, 1955, Wallace Berman. Semina journal, no. 1 (1955) by Wallace Berman. Gelatin silver print mounted on cardstock. 7 1/2 x 4 in. The Getty Research Institute, 2564-801.no1.2. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Semina cover with altered press photograph of William George Heirens (the “Lipstick Killer”), 1963, Dean Stockwell.

    Semina cover with altered press photograph of William George Heirens (the “Lipstick Killer”), 1963, Dean Stockwell. Semina journal, no. 8 (1963) by Wallace Berman. Halftone reproduction on cardstock, mounted on cardboard. 7 1/16 x 5 1/2. The Getty Research Institute, 2864-801.no8.6. Courtesy of Dean Stockwell and the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

    Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, 1964, Wallace Berman. Mixed media collage. 44 1/2 x 32 ¼ x 2 in. Collection of David Yorkin & Alix Madigan, Los Angeles. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Homage to Hermann Hesse

    Homage to Hermann Hesse, 1949 (modified 1954), Wallace Berman. Wood. 59 x 21 3/16 x 17 7/8 in. Collection of Joy Stockwell. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Card to George Herms

    Card to George Herms, 1970, Wallace Berman. Letterpress, ink, and gelatin silver print on board. 6 1/4 x 4 in. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.9. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Card to Betty Asher

    Card to Betty Asher, ca. 1965, Wallace Berman. Photomontage and ink on board. 4 x 2 15/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Michael Asher, 2009.M.30.25. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

Explore the Archive

  • Video: George Herms on Wallace Berman

    Video: George Herms speaks about the work of Wallace Berman, March 2011

  • Video: Lyn Kienholz on censorship

    Video: Arts advocate Lyn Kienholz talks about censorship in the L.A. art scene

  • Poster for Richard Pettibone exhibition

    Poster for Richard Pettibone exhibition Wanted: $2000 Reward at Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1966. Courtesy of the artist. Offset lithograph mounted on board. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Irving Blum, 2009.M.37.2

  • Poster for Craig Kauffman exhibition

    Poster for Craig Kauffman exhibition at Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1962. © The Estate of Craig Kauffman. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Michael Asher, 2009.M.30.16. Courtesy Frank Lloyd Gallery, Santa Monica, California

  • Announcement, George Herms at Aura Gallery

    Announcement for George Herms exhibition at Aura Gallery in Pasadena, California, 1963. Designed by Wallace Berman. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.3. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Suzi and Eddie Hicks, Charles Brittin exhibition, Semina Gallery

    Suzi and Eddie Hicks at Charles Brittin exhibition at Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, 1961. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.24 © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • View of the Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California

    Exterior view of the Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, with partial view of Charles Brittin’s exhibition. 1961. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.21 © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Charles Brittin exhibition at Semina Gallery

    Installation view of Charles Brittin exhibition at Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, 1961. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.19. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Showing a sculpture to the LAPD Vice Squad

    Wallace Berman and friends in the alley next to the Ferus Gallery showing a sculpture to the LAPD vice squad, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.10. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Wallace Berman's exhibition at Ferus Gallery

    Contact sheet showing images of Wallace Berman's exhibition at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.13. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photos by Charles Brittin

  • Wallace Berman's assemblage 'Temple'

    Wallace Berman's assemblage Temple in his exhibition at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.12. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Temporary closure sign at Ferus Gallery

    Temporary closure sign at Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers 2005.M.11.11. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Robert Alexander, John Reed, Wallace Berman, Juanita Dixon, and Walter Hopps

    Robert Alexander, John Reed, Wallace Berman, Juanita Dixon, and Walter Hopps in the alley next to Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, ca. 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.9. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Wallace Berman in an abandoned building

    Wallace Berman in an abandoned building on the Speedway (an alleyway running parallel to the beach) in Venice, California, ca. 1955–57. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Strip of photos by Charles Brittin

    Strip of photos taken by Charles Brittin at the Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, 1960. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • Dean Stockwell and Wallace Berman

    Dean Stockwell and Wallace Berman at Stone Brothers Printing, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.18. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Wallace Berman with a copy of 'Semina'

    Wallace Berman with a copy of Semina no. 1 in the Stone Brothers Printing display window, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.17. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Arthur Richer and Wallace Berman

    Arthur Richer and Wallace Berman at Syndell Studio in Los Angeles, 1957. Richer’s art is in the background. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.16. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Image courtesy of Lauri Richer. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • 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

  • Protest outside Ferus Gallery

    Protest on La Cienega Boulevard, outside the Ferus Gallery, May 15, 1965. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • 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.