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

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

Along with its neighbor the Ferus Gallery, the Rolf Nelson Gallery became an important outlet for up-and-coming artists working in Los Angeles. This exhibition, Herms’s first at Nelson, marked the beginning of their working relationship, which lasted through the mid-1960s. It was Herms’s first experience at a fully “commercial” gallery.

Historic Map Locations

Works of Art

  • 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

  • LA Odyssey

    L.A. Odyssey, 1969, Diane di Prima (poet), cover design by George Herms. Poets Press, San Francisco, 1969. Offset lithograph. 8 5/8 x 5 9/16 x 1/16 in. Book © Diane di Prima. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.27. Cover image © George Herms

  • 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 George Herms

    Card to George Herms, 1968, Dean Stockwell. Letterpress, ink, and tinted gelatin silver print on board. 5 x 3 3/8 in. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.12. © Dean Stockwell

  • Card to George Herms

    Card to George Herms, 1967, Dean Stockwell. Letterpress, ink, and gelatin silver prints on board. 5 1/4 x 3 9/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.17. © Dean Stockwell

  • Card to George Herms

    Card to George Herms, 1966, Russel Tamblyn. Photomontage and ink board. 4 9/16 x 3 9/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.10. © Russel Tamblyn

Explore the Archive

  • Video: George Herms on Wallace Berman

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

  • Video: George Herms on California assemblage

    Video: Artist George Herms shares anecdotes about the California assemblage community

  • Video: the postwar L.A. gallery scene

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

  • Video: George Herms

    Video: George Herms 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, 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

  • Announcement, "Roofle" at Tap City Circus

    Announcement for "Roofle," a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, October 30, 1966. Designed by George Herms. Letterpress, woodblock, and rubber stamping. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Hal Glicksman, 2009.M.5.6

  • Announcement, “Raffle” at Tap City Circus

    Announcement for “Raffle,” a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, June 6, 1965. Designed by George Herms. Letterpress, woodblock, rubber stamping, and tinted gelatin silver print. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Rolf G. Nelson, 2010.M.38.4

  • George Herms at “Earful” raffle

    George Herms at “Earful,” a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, 1972. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.24. Photo by and © Jerry Maybrook

  • Announcement, "Earful" at Tap City Circus

    Announcement for “Earful,” a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, February 20, 1972. Designed by George Herms. Letterpress, woodblock, and rubber stamping. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.25. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • 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