100 Not So Famous Views of L.A. - A Local Artist's Perspective on Los Angeles
A vibrant collection of paintings capturing Los Angeles from the eye of a local.
"Thomason paints as a native, capturing Los Angeles at the level of its streets.... this is Los Angeles without its history of forgetting, no longer rootless, placeless, but instead, through Thomason's transforming imagination, the embodiment of place."
-- David L. Ulin, book critic, Los Angeles Times
An original collection of paintings, 100 Not So Famous Views of L.A. offers intimate, often recognizable, sometimes unexpected glimpses of a city known and loved by the artist. Inspired by nineteenth-century Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, Los Angeles artist Barbara Thomason captures the charm and personality of her vibrant city, with commentary and history.
About This Los Angeles Art Book
This hardcover coffee table book features 100 original paintings that showcase Los Angeles through the perspective of someone who knows its streets intimately. Each painting captures the architectural details, urban landscapes, and street scenes that define the character of LA's neighborhoods. The collection includes artist commentary and historical context, making it both a visual journey and an educational exploration of the city.
Published by Prospect Park Books in September 2014, this book draws direct inspiration from Utagawa Hiroshige's celebrated One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, applying the same observational approach to contemporary Los Angeles. The result is a unique perspective on a city often seen through the lens of its famous landmarks, instead focusing on the everyday views that locals recognize and cherish.
About the Artist - Barbara Thomason
Barbara Thomason is a Los Angeles-based artist whose paintings, drawings, and prints have been shown in exhibitions at many galleries, museums and universities. She received a masters in printmaking from California State University, Long Beach and worked as a master printer in lithography at renowned artist workshop Gemini G.E.L., where she printed for Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenberg, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, Ed Ruscha, Ellsworth Kelly and many others. She has been on the art faculty at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, the University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Redlands, Otis College of Art and Design, and other fine institutions.
This collection makes an excellent housewarming gift, California souvenir, or addition to any art lover's library. The book's focus on authentic, lesser-known views of Los Angeles offers a fresh perspective for both residents and visitors to the city.
