The Getty has acquired the archive of renowned American artist Raymond Pettibon, who first gained recognition in the 1980s Southern California punk rock scene before establishing himself in the fine art world, officials announced Tuesday.
The archive from the 67-year-old artist was donated to the Getty Conservation Institute’s Reference Collection and Getty Research Institute Special Collections.
The materials include handwritten notes, concert flyers, zine mockups, screenprints and even a surfboard, according to Getty officials.
“This acquisition ensures that Pettibon’s legacy will be preserved and made accessible for future generations of scholars, curators, and artists, allowing them to better understand the intersection of culture, politics, and personal narrative in his work,” Glenn Phillips, chief curator of the Getty Research Institute, said in a statement.
Blending images with text, Pettibon’s drawings play with the styles of pop and commercial culture while weaving in language from mass media and classic writers like William Blake, Marcel Proust and Walt Whitman.
The Reference Collection will house paint tubes and ink jars related to his materials and techniques, while the bulk of the archive will be housed at the Getty Research Institute.
Born in 1957 in Tucson, Arizona, Pettibon grew up in Hermosa Beach and graduated from UCLA. He made his mark in the 1980s Southern California punk scene, designing the iconic logo for the band Black Flag and creating artwork for Sonic Youth and Minutemen.
Over the decades, he transitioned into the fine art world, with his work featured in major museums, including LACMA, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate in London.