BIOGRAPHY
Ed Moses was a trailblazer in the Los Angeles art scene, earning global recognition for his dynamic, ever-evolving approach to painting. Throughout his prolific career spanning seven decades, Moses continually challenged artistic boundaries, describing himself as a “mutator” who thrived on curiosity and discovery. For him, painting was a dialogue between structure and freedom, where control met the desire to transcend limitations.
Born on April 9, 1926, in Long Beach, California, Moses began his journey in a different field. After serving as a surgical technician in World War II, he initially pursued a career in medicine but found his passion for art through a serendipitous class at Long Beach City College. This pivotal moment led him to UCLA’s MFA program, where he connected with influential figures like Craig Kauffman and Walter Hopps, founder of the Ferus Gallery. In 1958, Moses debuted at Ferus Gallery, becoming a core member of the “Cool School,” a collective of groundbreaking artists including Robert Irwin, Ed Ruscha, and Ken Price. Together, they reshaped postwar art in Los Angeles, creating a foundation for the city’s thriving contemporary art scene.
Moses' work was deeply rooted in experimentation and transformation. A committed Buddhist practitioner from 1978, he embraced impermanence and chance in his creative process, focusing on presence and intuition over rigid technique. He eschewed the label “artist,” instead calling himself a “mark maker” who sought to explore the endless possibilities of the painted surface. Over the years, Moses’ contributions to contemporary art were celebrated through numerous exhibitions and retrospectives. Highlights include his 1996 retrospective at MOCA Los Angeles and landmark shows at LACMA and UCLA’s Wight Gallery. His work transitioned from early drawings to bold, abstract paintings, with his later pieces showcasing his mastery of scale, color, and texture.
Even in his 90s, Moses remained a vital force in the art world, working daily in his Venice studio and inspiring generations of artists. His legacy endures as a testament to his unwavering commitment to reinvention, exploration, and the power of art to transcend time and boundaries.
EXHIBITIONS
Chance & Circumstance
Through the Looking Glass
MOSES @90
Now & Then
LACMA - Drawings from the 60’s & 70’s
MEDIA
Ed Moses In Conversation with William Turner
LA Times: Ed Moses Dies
ArtNews: Pioneering Painter Dies at 91
Ed Moses: Through the Looking Glass (VIDEO)
The Joan Quinn Profiles - Ed Moses 1926-2018 (VIDEO)
INCONVERSATION: Ed Moses LIVETALKS LA (VIDEO)
Ed Moses Speaks with curator Grace Kook-Anderson (VIDEO)
Getty Research Institute: Ed Moses an Oral History (VIDEO)
The Artist Profile Archive - Ed Moses
LA TIMES - Moses@90
LA TIMES - Ed Moses Turns 90
Yuki Recorder Sounds - Ed Moses (VIDEO)
University of California Irvine CrossSection (VIDEO)
NY Times T Magazine - Art Legends
LA LEGENDS TALK (VIDEO)
Ed Moses & His Art of the 60’s & 70’s - LACMA (VIDEO)
LA TIMES - The Legendary Ed Moses in Motion (VIDEO)
Moses@90 by EMS (VIDEO)
Artillery Interviews Ed Moses
Vernissage TV - First, look at the paintings. Then we’ll shoot the shit. (VIDEO)
Artnet Reviews Ed Moses LACMA Drawing Show
TALKSHOW - ED MOSES (VIDEO)
Hunter Drohojowska Philp & Lisa Napoli on Ed Moses for KCRW ArtTalk
ED MOSES - Telluride Gallery of Fine Art (VIDEO)
Metropolitan ArtsConversations - ED MOSES (VIDEO)
ED MOSES at 90 by EMS (VIDEO)
ARTSY on Now & Then @ William Turner Gallery
TAPA The Artist Profile Archive
KCET - The Compulsive Creator
KPCC - Ed Moses Doesn’t Make Art He Makes Magic
The Argonaut - Ed Moses cover story for The Argonaut
The Guardian - I Mark Therefor I Am
LA Magazine - Ed Moses Drawings at LACMA
The Robb Report - Driven to Abstraction
Art & Antiques - Ed Moses
WORKS






