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

Larry Bell in his studio in Venice, California

Larry Bell in his studio in Venice, California, ca. late 1960s. Image courtesy of and © Larry Bell

Larry Bell moved his studio to Venice in the early 1960s in order to have a more spacious working environment as his works grew in size and technological complexity. This large studio housed Bell’s small and big chambers, which he used to coat the glass for his sculptures.

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, 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

Explore the Archive

  • 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: Larry Bell

    Video: Larry Bell speaks about his work, March 2011

  • Sterling Holloway with Larry Bell painting

    Sterling Holloway at his house, next to Larry Bell’s painting Little Blank Riding Hood (1961–62). Photo by Frank J. Thomas. Image courtesy of Larry Bell and the Frank J. Thomas Archives

  • Exterior of Larry Bell's studio in Venice, CA

    Exterior view of Larry Bell's studio on Market Street in Venice, California, ca. 1970. Image courtesy of and © Larry Bell

  • Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, and Ken Price

    Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, and Ken Price outside Hotel Caesars in Tijuana, Mexico, 1968. Image courtesy of Larry Bell

  • Larry Bell's studio

    Larry Bell’s studio in 1970. Photo by Larry Bell. Image courtesy of Billy Al Bengston

  • Los Angeles artists at Culture Day at LACMA, 1968

    Several Los Angeles artists at Culture Day at LACMA (L.A. County Museum of Art), 1968. Photo by and © Julian Wasser.

  • 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

  • Larry Bell in his studio

    Larry Bell in his Market Street studio in Venice, California, 1961. Image courtesy of Larry Bell, Marvin Silver and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica. © Marvin Silver