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Lewis Baltz
Following his studies at the San Francisco Art Institute, Newport Beach-born Lewis Baltz returned to Los Angeles in 1969, attracted to the pioneering conceptual and installation work of such artists as Robert Irwin and Barry Le Va. He was also an active presence in New York, becoming in 1971 the first photographer to be represented by the prominent contemporary art dealer Leo Castelli. With support by the NEA and Castelli, Baltz produced his series The New Industrial Parks near Irvine, California, in 1975. On one level a socioeconomic analysis of developments in Orange and Santa Clara counties taken with a 35-mm camera, the series also relates to postminimal concerns of the broader contemporary art field. Baltz's precise yet minimal pictorial format reflects the unrevealing appearance of the buildings themselves. “You don't know whether they're manufacturing panty hose or megadeath,” he remarked.
1. EAST WALL, MCGAW LABORATORIES, 1821 LANGLEY, COSTA MESA From the series New Industrial Parks, 1974 Gelatin silver print 6 x 9 in. Gift of the photographer. George Eastman House collections. © Lewis Baltz.
2. JAMBOREE ROAD BETWEEN BECKMAN AND RICHTER AVENUES, LOOKING NORTHWEST From the series New Industrial Parks, 1974 Gelatin silver print 6 x 9 in. Gift of the photographer. George Eastman House collections. © Lewis Baltz.
3. SOUTH CORNER, RICCAR AMERICA COMPANY, 3184 PULLMAN, COSTA MESA From the series New Industrial Parks, 1974 Gelatin silver print 6 x 9 in. Gift of the photographer. George Eastman House collections. © Lewis Baltz.
Audio excerpt from the film Contacts Vol. 2: The Renewal of Contemporary Photography (2005), generously provided by Arte France.
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Lewis Baltz talks about his desire to photograph the everyday.
ROBERT ADAMS
LEWIS BALTZ
BERND AND HILLA BECHER
JOE DEAL
FRANK GOHLKE
NICHOLAS NIXON
JOHN SCHOTT
STEPHEN SHORE
HENRY WESSEL, JR.
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