From his early paintings, which featured a single stylized word emblazoned on a solid background, to his recent canvasses of mountain peaks superimposed with seemingly unrelated text, much of Ed Ruscha's work explores the relationship between image and language. Despite this motif, his portfolio is well mixed, including everything from photo-essays documenting gas stations, swimming pools, and parking lots, to a series of paintings stained with cherry extract, egg yolks, and spinach. Always sharp, sometimes enigmatic, Ruscha's art undoubtedly provokes responses just as varied as his subjects and techniques.

Tony Peltier