Robert Rauschenberg is renowned for incorporating real-world imagery into his artworks, blurring the lines between art and life. In December 1997 Rauschenberg came to Los Angeles in order to take photographs for a new print series; he focused his camera on the city, captivated by its elusive vibe and the layered complexity of its daily rhythms. For a week, accompanied by two retired LAPD officers, Rauschenberg explored areas that most residents overlooked or avoided. Guided by their knowledge, he moved through L.A.’s multicultural neighborhoods, absorbing its vibrant visual language—from graffiti, improvised signage, and ethnic symbols to rooftop textures, cracked pavement, and tangled wires—all of which he transformed into layered images where scale, meaning, and composition constantly shift. The resulting body of work, L.A. Uncovered, is a vivid urban panorama.

The images were smuggled out of corners to become indelible parts in a paper kaleidoscope about L.A.

-Robert Rauschenberg

Remarkably, what Rauschenberg captured more than 25 years ago feels more relevant today than ever. His art reframes the environment around us, revealing the purpose and poetry hidden in plain sight.  Los Angeles is a city in constant motion—reinventing itself, redefining its identity, and leading global culture. Rauschenberg’s vision challenges and invites us to notice what we often pass by, to embrace diversity not with hesitation, but with celebration—as a rich source of meaning.

Technically, the series also reflects his inventive spirit. From 72 selected photographs, Rauschenberg and the Gemini printers developed a transfer process unique to him: brushing water over sheets of handmade paper, placing the photo face down, and pressing the back with a burnishing tool. Depending on the amount of water used, images emerge with sharp photographic detail or dissolve into soft watercolor washes. Each print was designed with the specific sheet of handmade paper in mind, allowing colors and forms to bleed organically over the deckled edge. The images were then digitally scanned and separated for the screenprint process, combining analog tactility with technological precision.

What makes L.A. Uncovered especially resonant is its deep tie to Gemini G.E.L. itself. Founded in Los Angeles in 1966, Gemini has long been a creative hub where the city’s restless energy and experimental spirit meet the most visionary artists of our time. Rauschenberg was not only one of Gemini’s earliest collaborators, but also one of its most daring, repeatedly pushing the workshop to expand the boundaries of printmaking. In L.A. Uncovered, his lens turned toward the very city where Gemini was born, transforming Los Angeles into both subject and medium. Through this collaboration, Rauschenberg and Gemini captured the pulse of the city—its grit, beauty, and contradictions—securing L.A.’s place at the heart of contemporary art history.

I don't explain my art. The work and its intentions are as different as people, times, and lives. Invite yourself.

-Robert Rauschenberg

UPCOMING EVENTS

L.A. Print, Edition 14: Robert Rauschenberg in L.A.
LACMA 5905 Wilshire Boulevard 5:30 PM Panel
Moderated by Erin Maynes, panelists Helen Hsu, Fiona Connor and Jennifer Turner
will explore Rauschenberg’s legacy, especially through his collaboration with
Gemini G.E.L., and its impact on contemporary printmaking.

Please RSVP to LACMA

 

Prior to the Panel:
Open House at Gemini G.E.L.
8365 Melrose Avenue
Saturday, October 11th 12–4 PM

Please RSVP to Gemini