Ed Ruscha Names (In Collaboration With Kenny Scharf) For Sale

About this work

Ed Ruscha remains one of the most influential figures in contemporary American art, having shaped the visual language of Pop and Conceptual art since the 1960s. His text-based works, which treat words as both image and subject, have secured his position in major museum collections worldwide, from the Museum of Modern Art to the Tate Modern. The secondary market consistently reflects his enduring relevance, with prints and editions commanding strong results at auction. *Names* (2016) exemplifies Ruscha's continued exploration of language as visual phenomenon. The 6-color lithograph presents its subject with the artist's characteristic deadpan sensibility, divorcing typography from conventional meaning while simultaneously amplifying its graphic presence. This work belongs to Ruscha's broader investigation into how words function as cultural artifacts—familiar yet strange when isolated from context. The lithographic medium, which Ruscha has employed throughout his career, allows for the precise tonal gradations and crisp edges essential to his aesthetic. Issued in an edition of 30, this print represents a limited opportunity to acquire a work from one of the most significant American artists of the past six decades. Ruscha's editions have historically appreciated well, reflecting both collector demand and institutional recognition of his contributions to postwar art. The modest edition size ensures relative scarcity in a market where his works are actively sought by both private collectors and public institutions building comprehensive holdings in American art. For acquisition inquiries regarding *Names* by Ed Ruscha, please contact Guy Hepner.