Departures is KCET's hyper-local web documentary, community engagement tool and digital literacy program about the cultural history of Los Angeles' neighborhoods.

BILLY AL BENGSTON - Artist

Billy Al Bensington - Artist
Billy Al Bensington - Artist
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Click on the thumbnails for videos, slideshows, and more.
1/4: On His Art
2/4: Walter Hopps and the Ferus Group
3/4: The Business of Art
4/4: A Trip with Ed Ruscha

At the entrance of Billy Al Bengston's home and studio is a poster of a Ferus Group exhibition titled "As a Public Service - THE STUDS". This word play was no coincidence, it had a purpose - besides attempting to create a west coast vernacular, the Ferus Group rejected the stereotype of the artist as tormented individual. Many like Bengston, Robert Irwin, Ken Price, and Ed Moses loved to surf, build, and ride motorcycles, which allowed them to create a new and different contextual foundation for their work. Paintings from Bengston, embraced his knowledge and love of motorcycles by incorporating the same materials - metal and automotive paint - in his work. In 1969, Bengston had a major retrospective in the newly built Los Angeles County Museum of Art, making him one of the seminal figures of the city's art scene.

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