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.

Chouinard Art Institute

Orb, Chouinard Art Institute student journal

Orb, a Chouinard Art Institute student journal, vol. 1, no. 2, 1959. © Ed Ruscha. The Getty Research Institute, 2925-311, v1.no2

Chouinard Art Institute was founded in 1921 in downtown Los Angeles by Nelbert Murphy Chouinard, whose goal was to establish an important art school on the West Coast. The reputation of the institution grew through the 1930s and 1940s. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Chouinard was known for its open environment and for progressive instructors such as Richards Ruben, Emerson Woelffer, and Robert Irwin. In 1961 Chouinard merged with the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music to become the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and in 1971 it reopened at its current campus in Valencia, California.

Historic Map Locations

Works of Art

  • Untitled, Wall Piece

    Untitled, Wall Piece, 1967, Larry Bell. White and black glass, vacuum coated. 120 x 300 in. Collection of Michael Straus, Birmingham, Alabama. © Larry Bell

  • Untitled (White Light Grid Series-V)

    Untitled (White Light Grid Series-V), 1969, Mary Corse. Glass microspheres in acrylic on canvas. 108 x 108 in. Andrea Nasher Collection. Permission courtesy Ace Gallery and the artist

  • Untitled, 1969, Larry Bell.

    Untitled, 1969, Larry Bell. Mineral-coated glass. 40 x 40 x 40 in. Courtesy The Pace Gallery. © Larry Bell. Photo by Ellen Labenski

  • 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

  • Tap Dancer

    Tap Dancer, 1967, Stephan von Huene. Wood, metal, and mechanical components. 47 1/4 x 35 7/16 x 29 1/2 in. Collection of Nancy Reddin Kienholz. © Petra von Huene. Photo: Sebastian Hartz

  • Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas

    Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas, 1963, Ed Ruscha. Oil on canvas. 64 1/2 x 121 3/4 in. Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; gift of James Meeker, Class of 1958, in memory of Lee English, Class of 1958, scholar, poet, athlete and friend to all. © Ed Ruscha

  • Ocean Park Series

    Ocean Park Series, 1962, John Altoon. Oil on canvas. 72 x 84 in. Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA: Museum purchase with additional funds provided by Dr. James B. Pick and Dr. Rosalyn M. Laudati, Mr. Ward Chamberlin, Mrs. E.G. Chamberlin, Patricia Fredericks, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Neisser, Mr. and Mrs. John Martin Shea, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Goldstein, Zada Taylor, Mr. David H. Steinmetz, and Mrs. Bernard McDonald. Permission courtesy of the Estate of John Altoon and Braunstein/Quay Gallery, San Francisco, CA. Photo by Gene Ogami

  • Gonna California

    Gonna California, 1969, recorded by Terry Allen. Vinyl record (45rpm). 6 7/8 in. diameter. The Getty Research Institute, Allan Kaprow Papers, 980063.180. © Terry Allen, Green Shoes Publishing, BMI, Administered by BUG Music

  • 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

  • Black on White

    Black on White, 2011, Robert Irwin. Granite. 60 x 36 x 392 in. This work was commissioned by the J. Paul Getty Trust in honor of James N. Wood. © Robert Irwin
    These images show a model of the installation, the quarry in India where the granite was sourced, and the piece after delivery to the fabricator.

  • BG Red

    BG Red, 1963, Ken Price. Fired clay with acrylic and lacquer on wooden base. 10 in. high. Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Gifford Phillips. Permission courtesy Ken Price Studio. Photo by Taylor Sherill

  • 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

  • 24 Pieces

    24 Pieces, 1970, Allen Ruppersberg. Spiral-bound offset lithograph. Self-published book. 6 1/4 x 8 1/4 in. The Getty Research Institute, 89-B22093.c1. © Allen Ruppersberg

Explore the Archive

  • 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: Joe Goode, Larry Bell, Ron Miyashiro, and Jerry McMillan

    Video: Joe Goode, Larry Bell, Ron Miyashiro, and Jerry McMillan speak about the exhibition War Babies, 2010–11

  • Video: Robert Irwin’s installation Black on White

    Video: Documentation of the artistic process, fabrication, and installation of Robert Irwin’s installation Black on White

  • Video: Ed Ruscha

    Video: Ed Ruscha speaks about his work, April 2011

  • Video: Joe Goode

    Video: Joe Goode speaks about his work, March 2011

  • Video: Mary Corse

    Video: Mary Corse speaks about her work, April 2011

  • Video: Larry Bell

    Video: Larry Bell speaks about his work, March 2011

  • Orb, Chouinard Art Institute student journal

    Orb, a Chouinard Art Institute student journal, vol. 1, no. 2, 1959. © Ed Ruscha. The Getty Research Institute, 2925-311, v1.no2

  • Poster for "War babies" exhibition

    Poster for the exhibition War Babies at Huysman Gallery in Los Angeles, May 29–June 17, 1961. Poster created by Jerry McMillan and Joe Goode. Photo © Jerry McMillan. Design © Joe Goode. The Getty Research Institute, 2006.M.1.5. Image courtesy of Jerry McMillan and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica

  • Ed Ruscha and Joe Goode on horseback

    Ed Ruscha and Joe Goode on horseback. Exhibition catalogue cover for the Fine Arts Patrons of Newport Harbor at the Balboa Pavillion Gallery, 1968. Image courtesy of Jerry McMillan and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica. © Jerry McMillan