Ed Ruscha

Anthony d'Offay, London
Sprüth Magers Lee, London
Acquired by the present owner from the above

Munich, Monika Sprüth Philomene Magers, Ed Ruscha: With and Without Words, September - October 2002

This work is in good condition overall. There is a 3 inch expertly repaired tear in the canvas which fluoresces brightly under ultraviolet light and is located 28 1/2 inches from the right edge and 16 inches from the top edge and visible only from the reverse. Under ultraviolet light inspection, there is no further evidence of restoration. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Throughout the years, Ruscha has written the biography of the American landscape by painting the land in which he lives. Portland to Memphis is part of a larger body of work begun in 1998 in which Ruscha returns to 'mapping' the cities of America and the streets of Los Angeles, drawing upon his earlier works from the 1980's of Los Angeles by night. Here, he graphs the road from Portland to Cheyenne to Memphis in a simple grid as if they are stops of a greater road trip from west to east.

Ruscha works very meticulously in these "metro plots." Despite their relaxed appearance, these works are calculated and precise; Ruscha's application method of acrylic on canvas gives the painting an airbrushed hazzy sensation of a road without an end. An amalgamation of aerial views and street maps, the present work alludes to an imaginary, almost futuristic map of a road to freedom.