Not a Vowel #75 (F)

EDWARD RUSCHA (B. 1937)

Not a Vowel #75 (F)

signed, titled and dated twice ‘#75 Aug. 21, 1996 Ed Ruscha 1996’ (on the cover page)

acrylic on paperback book

4 1/2 x 4 x 1 inches (11.4 x 10.2 x 2.5 cm)

Executed in 1996.

PROVENANCE:

Gagosian Gallery, Los Angeles

Private collection, acquired from the above in 1996

Sotheby’s, New York, 28 September 2018, lot 467

Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

NOTES:

Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1937, Ed Ruscha is a seminal figure in American art, renowned for his innovative use of text and imagery that encapsulates the visual culture of the American West. In Not A Vowel #75 (F), Ruscha continues his exploration of language and typography inspired by contemporary advertising by isolating the consonant “F” on the cover of Wildflowers of America. The large orange letter on the small paperback book, transforms the commonplace object into a contemplative artwork. This piece exemplified Ruscha’s enduring interest in the interplay between word and image, challenging viewers to reconsider the ordinary through a conceptual lens.