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

Video: Lyn Kienholz on censorship » Pacific Standard Time at the Getty
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Video: Arts advocate Lyn Kienholz talks about censorship in the L.A. art scene

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Works of Art

  • Walter Hopps Hopps Hopps

    Walter Hopps Hopps Hopps, 1959, Edward Kienholz. Paint and resin on wood, printed color reproductions, ink on paper, vertebrae, telephone parts, candy, dental molds, metal, pencil, and leather. 87 x 42 x 21 in. The Menil Collection, Houston, Gift of Lannan Foundation. © Nancy Reddin Kienholz. Photo: Susan Einstein

  • 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 (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

  • 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

  • The Future as Afterthought

    The Future as Afterthought, 1962, Edward Kienholz. Paint and resin on plastic and rubber doll parts with sheet metal, tricycle pedals, and wood. 54 x 21 x 16 15/16 in. Onnasch Collection. © Nancy Reddin Kienholz. Photo courtesy L.A. Louver, Venice, CA

  • Concord #8

    Concord #8, 1963, Ron Miyashiro. Wood, cardboard, and enamel. 11 5/8 x 5 7/8 x 6 1/4 in. Collection of Diana Zlotnick. © Ron Miyashiro. Photo courtesy of Cardwell Jimmerson and the artist

  • 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

Explore the Archive

  • Video: Edward Kienholz’s 1966 LACMA exhibition

    Video: Visit Edward Kienholz’s 1966 LACMA exhibition and watch people react to his 1964 sculpture Back Seat Dodge ’38. Excerpt from the documentary film Kienholz on Exhibit, 1969, directed by June Steel. © June Steel

  • Video: Edward Kienholz’s 1961 exhibition at Ferus Gallery

    Video: Attend the opening of Edward Kienholz’s 1961 exhibition at the Ferus Gallery. Excerpt from the television program Story of an Artist, 1962, directed by William Kronick. Licensed by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

  • Video: George Herms on Cameron

    Video: George Herms speaks about the work of Cameron, 2002. Footage courtesy of the Cameron Parsons Foundation

  • 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

  • Ed Bereal in his studio

    Ed Bereal in his studio in Los Angeles, ca. 1961. © Ed Bereal. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.2. Image courtesy of Jerry McMillan and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica. © Jerry McMillan

  • 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

  • Ferus Gallery, Edward Kienholz installation

    Exterior view of the Ferus Gallery during the exhibition of Edward Kienholz's installation Roxy's, 1962. Photo by William Claxton. Courtesy Demont Photo Management, LLC.

  • Ron Miyashiro

    Ron Miyashiro in front of one of his paintings, ca. 1961. Courtesy of the artist and the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. © Ron Miyashiro

  • 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

  • Edward Kienholz, 1958

    Edward Kienholz in 1958. Image courtesy of Marvin Silver and Craig Krull Gallery. © Marvin Silver

  • 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