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.

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, 1964, Wallace Berman. Mixed media collage. 44 1/2 x 32 ¼ x 2 in. Collection of David Yorkin & Alix Madigan, Los Angeles. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

Titled retrospectively after a single released by “Godfather of Soul” James Brown in 1965, this work combines images of the era’s most potent cultural and political references. In addition to an image of Brown at top right, it incorporates pictures of boxer Cassius Clay (who claimed the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston in February 1964), The Rolling Stones (who made their first US appearances in 1964) and Lee Harvey Oswald (who had assassinated JFK the previous year). Berman ran found photographs through a Verifax machine, a predecessor of the photocopier, before collaging them and applying transfer lettering in Roman and Hebrew script. The image of the hand-held transistor radio at top right would reappear in several of Berman’s other Verifax works. Unlike the grids of repeated imagery found in most of the other Verifaxes he made, the more free-form layout of elements in Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag evokes the musical riffs that befit some of its jazz and rock ‘n’ roll subjects.

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Exhibition audio: Learn about Berman’s Verifax collages


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Exhibition audio: Berman in Topanga Canyon

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Works of Art

  • Untitled (Verifax Collage)

    Untitled (Verifax Collage), 1969, Wallace Berman. Verifax collage on board. 45 x 48 in. Collection of Michael D. Fox, Berkeley, CA, courtesy Steven Wolf Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles. Photo by Joe Schopplein

  • Untitled (Faceless Faces with Kabala)

    Untitled (Faceless Faces with Kabala), 1963–70, Wallace Berman. Verifax collage with transfer lettering. 29 7/8 x 28 11/16 in. Collection of Nicole Klagsbrun. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Topanga Seed

    Topanga Seed, 1969–70, Wallace Berman. Dolomite rock and transfer letters. 39 x 40 3/4 x 41 in. Collection of the Grinstein Family. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Semina cover with Wife (photograph of Shirley Berman)

    Semina cover with Wife (photograph of Shirley Berman), 1959, Wallace Berman. Semina journal, no. 4 (1959) by Wallace Berman. Halftone reproduction on cardstock. 9 7/16 x 8 x 1/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, 2564-801.no1.2. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Semina cover with photograph of Cameron

    Semina cover with photograph of Cameron, 1955, Wallace Berman. Semina journal, no. 1 (1955) by Wallace Berman. Gelatin silver print mounted on cardstock. 7 1/2 x 4 in. The Getty Research Institute, 2564-801.no1.2. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Semina cover with altered press photograph of William George Heirens (the “Lipstick Killer”), 1963, Dean Stockwell.

    Semina cover with altered press photograph of William George Heirens (the “Lipstick Killer”), 1963, Dean Stockwell. Semina journal, no. 8 (1963) by Wallace Berman. Halftone reproduction on cardstock, mounted on cardboard. 7 1/16 x 5 1/2. The Getty Research Institute, 2864-801.no8.6. Courtesy of Dean Stockwell and the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Homage to Hermann Hesse

    Homage to Hermann Hesse, 1949 (modified 1954), Wallace Berman. Wood. 59 x 21 3/16 x 17 7/8 in. Collection of Joy Stockwell. Permission courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • 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 Betty Asher

    Card to Betty Asher, ca. 1965, Wallace Berman. Photomontage and ink on board. 4 x 2 15/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Michael Asher, 2009.M.30.25. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

Explore the Archive

  • Video: George Herms on Wallace Berman

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

  • Suzi and Eddie Hicks, Charles Brittin exhibition, Semina Gallery

    Suzi and Eddie Hicks at Charles Brittin exhibition at Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, 1961. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.24 © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • View of the Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California

    Exterior view of the Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, with partial view of Charles Brittin’s exhibition. 1961. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.21 © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Charles Brittin exhibition at Semina Gallery

    Installation view of Charles Brittin exhibition at Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, 1961. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.19. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • 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

  • Wallace Berman in an abandoned building

    Wallace Berman in an abandoned building on the Speedway (an alleyway running parallel to the beach) in Venice, California, ca. 1955–57. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Strip of photos by Charles Brittin

    Strip of photos taken by Charles Brittin at the Semina Gallery in Larkspur, California, 1960. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • Dean Stockwell and Wallace Berman

    Dean Stockwell and Wallace Berman at Stone Brothers Printing, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.18. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Wallace Berman with a copy of 'Semina'

    Wallace Berman with a copy of Semina no. 1 in the Stone Brothers Printing display window, 1957. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.17. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • Arthur Richer and Wallace Berman

    Arthur Richer and Wallace Berman at Syndell Studio in Los Angeles, 1957. Richer’s art is in the background. The Getty Research Institute, Charles Brittin papers, 2005.M.11.16. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Image courtesy of Lauri Richer. Photo by Charles Brittin

  • 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

  • Wallace Berman, 1969

    Wallace Berman in 1969. Image courtesy of Malcolm Lubliner and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica. © Malcolm Lubliner

  • Wallace Berman with one of his collages

    Wallace Berman with his collage Papa's Got a Brand New Bag in 1965. Art © the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles. Image courtesy of Marvin Silver and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica. © Marvin Silver