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.

Billy Al Bengston Studio

Bill Al Bengston's studio in Venice

Billy Al Bengston’s studio on Mildred Street in Venice, California, 1970. Image courtesy of and © Billy Al Bengston

In the 1960s artist Billy Al Bengston moved to a large studio at 110 Mildred Street in Venice that became a meeting space for artists living and working in the same building at the time, such as Ken Price, Ed Moses, and John Altoon. Bengston hosted regular exhibitions in his studio, which he called the “Artist Studio” while artworks were on view. Through these exhibitions, he sold work straight out of his studio as a means of circumventing gallery commission.

Historic Map Locations

Works of Art

  • Sonny

    Sonny, 1961, Billy Al Bengston. Oil on Masonite. 36 x 36 in. Billy Al Bengston Studio Holdings. © Billy Al Bengston. Photo by Brian Forrest

  • Big Jim McLain

    Big Jim McLain, 1967, Billy Al Bengston. Polyurethane and laquer on aluminum. 60 x 58 in. Collection of Joan and Jack Quinn. © Billy Al Bengston

Explore the Archive

  • Video: Billy Al Bengston

    Video: Billy Al Bengston speaks about his work, March 2010

  • Resin painting by Ed Moses at Billy Al Bengston’s studio

    A resin painting by Ed Moses in an exhibition at Billy Al Bengston’s Artist Studio, 1970. © Ed Moses. Photo by Billy Al Bengston. Image courtesy of and © Billy Al Bengston Art

  • Billy Al Bengston polishing an artwork

    Billy Al Bengston polishing an artwork, 1963. © Billy Al Bengston. Image courtesy of Marvin Silver and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica. © Marvin Silver

  • An exhibition at Billy Al Bengston’s Artist Studio

    An exhibition at Billy Al Bengston’s Artist Studio, with works by Ed Ruscha, Peter Alexander, and John McCracken, 1970. Image courtesy of Billy Al Bengston