Ed Moses, born on April 9, 1926, in Long Beach, California, was an American artist whose work played a pivotal role in the postwar art scene of the West Coast. His mother, Olivia Branco, had recently separated from his father, Alphonses Moses, and was in the process of relocating the family from Hawaii to California when Moses was born. This period of transition and upheaval in his early life perhaps foreshadowed the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of his artistic career. Moses did not initially set out on an artistic path. After serving as a surgical technician during World War II, he intended to pursue a career in medicine. He enrolled in the pre-med program at Long Beach City College but found himself unable to memorize the curriculum. A serendipitous encounter with a life-changing art class taught by Pedro Miller revealed a spark of untapped talent in Moses. Recognizing his potential, Miller encouraged him to change course, leading Moses to enroll in the MFA program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, Moses met artist Craig Kauffman, who introduced him to Walter Hopps, the future owner of the Ferus Gallery. This connection would prove significant, as the Ferus Gallery became a hub for avant-garde artists in Los Angeles. Moses first exhibited at the Ferus Gallery in 1957, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious career that would span over five decades. Throughout his life, Moses was known for his relentless experimentation with materials and techniques. He was a central figure in the "Cool School" of artists, a group that included Ed Ruscha, Robert Irwin, Larry Bell, and others, who collectively shaped the Los Angeles art scene and brought national attention to it. Moses' work was characterized by a compulsive creativity, driven less by the desire for self-expression than by an insatiable curiosity to explore and discover. Moses' approach to art was unconventional. He often referred to himself as a "mutator," indicating his philosophy that art was a process of evolution rather than change. He was known for saying, "I don't believe in change. I believe in mutation, and every painting I make comes out of the painting that preceded it." This philosophy was evident in his work, which was a product of continuous exploration and a dialogue with the materials he used. His first museum shows were in 1976—a drawings show of works from 1958-1970s at the Wight Gallery at UCLA and a show of new paintings at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), which marked a transitional moment in his career. While drawing was prominent in his work in the 1960s and early 70s, by the mid-70s, Moses turned primarily to painting. He was the subject of a major retrospective at MOCA Los Angeles in 1996, which documented his significant contributions to the art world. Moses' work is included in the collections of many prestigious institutions, such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Hammer Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York. His legacy is one of a pioneering spirit and a commitment to the process of making art, which he continued until his passing at the age of 91 on January 17, 2018, at his home in Venice, California. Ed Moses' career was marked by numerous exhibitions and accolades. He received national and international recognition for his practice, known for its restless intensity and ever-evolving style. His work was not only a reflection of his dedication to non-objective art but also a testament to his belief in the power of art to transcend the confines of the canvas and engage with the world in a meaningful way. Moses' influence on the Los Angeles art scene and beyond continues to inspire new generations of artists, ensuring that his spirit of innovation and exploration lives on.

Ed Moses Quotes and Sales of Works

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