Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles
March 2025
Getty has acquired the archive of American artist Raymond Pettibon.
Pettibon, who became known in the 1980s for his work in the Southern California music scene, particularly through posters and album covers, later gained widespread recognition in the fine art world. His distinctive visual language incorporates an eclectic range of American cultural and historical references, blending elements from popular culture, literature, sports, politics, and religion. His most iconic works synthesize crashing waves, surfers riding the tube, and sardonic text extracted and repurposed from literary sources.
The archive was donated to the Getty Conservation Institute’s Reference Collection and Getty Research Institute Special Collections.