SPAM takes flight in a print by Ed Ruscha.
Ed Ruscha painted Actual Size in 1962 at a similar time to sonic, one word paintings like Oof, Smash and Honk. In its use of a household brand, Actual Size also draws connections with everyday consumerism and with Ruscha's larger scale appropriations, like the Hollywood sign.
The painting brings to life "SPAM in a can" – a phrase coined by journalists to describe astronauts sent to space in self-piloting rockets. Its title is lifted from the world of advertising, circling the true-to-life dimensions of its flying subject. These layers speak to Ruscha's flair for dual meanings and deadpan humour.
Actual Size plays an important part in the history of both Pop Art and Conceptual Art, propelling it to become one of Ruscha's most iconic paintings. To coincide with a retrospective at LACMA, it has been transformed into a limited edition print. Proceeds will support the museum's future.
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