One of the most pioneering artists of the last century, Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008) produced a diverse body of work characterized by experimentation, the use of varied mediums and methods, and an embrace of cross-cultural exchange. Although Rauschenberg was born in Texas and lived primarily in New York and Florida, Los Angeles played a pivotal role in his artistic development. His first visit to an art museum occurred in Southern California, while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in 1944–45. This experience prompted Rauschenberg’s decision to become an artist, and in the following decades he created some of his most groundbreaking work here.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s Rauschenberg partnered with the L.A. print workshops Gemini G.E.L. and Styria Studio, where he challenged the conventions of printmaking with works such as Booster and Currents. During this time he was also a central participant in LACMA’s Art & Technology program, collaborating with scientists and engineers from Teledyne Technologies. In 1981, Rauschenberg extensively photographed L.A. for his In + Out City Limits project, and 17 years later he pictured the metropolis again in his LA Uncovered screenprints.
Featuring a selection of works that Rauschenberg made in and about L.A., this exhibition highlights the city’s indelible impact on his creative output.
