The White Easel series, by Ed and Nancy Kienholz, were some of the first works to manifest from their newly built studio in Hope, Idaho, where the couple relocated in 1973. Many were made whilst the studio was still under construction, utilizing left over building materials as a basis. Former Kienholz studio assistant Rich Post shares his first hand account with these works:

“When the initial part of the new studio in Idaho was complete, it was a formidable space to be dealt with, and it was not the only thing going on in this world. Construction continued all around, and yet Ed and Nancy’s need and desire to make art never stopped… the overriding visual component was the wall. There was no denying its presence. Finally, the wall itself became an element in many of the works. The 4 x 4 inch timbers, the cinder block wall, and the lights were all rigged to give the points that Ed desired. The replica background wall and easel were built to convey the studio space that had to be confronted.” – Rich Post

See these works and more in our current exhibition Kienholz: Berlin/Hope, on view through April 26th. Click here to view the catalogue produced for the show.

IMAGES: (top) Edward & Nancy Reddin Kienholz, White Easel with Wooden Hand, 1978; (bottom) Kienholz studio in Hope, Idaho, 1975