
Archi-Props
8 works

Safe and Effective Medication, 2011
Lithograph in colors on Somerset Satin paper
35 x 35 in 88.9 x 88.9 cm
Edition
Edition of 20
This lithograph presents Ruscha's characteristically bold text-based composition against a gradient background that transitions from deep blue at the top to warm orange at the bottom. The phrase "SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MEDICATION" appears in capital letters, rendered in the artist's signature sans-serif typeface. The letters seem to float across the chromatic shift, creating a striking visual tension between the clinical authority of the pharmaceutical language and the atmospheric, almost cinematic quality of the colored field. The lithographic technique achieves remarkable depth and luminosity in the color transitions. Created during a period when Ruscha continued to explore language as both image and concept, this work exemplifies his decades-long investigation into American vernacular and the ambiguous messages embedded in everyday phrases. The unsettling juxtaposition of reassuring pharmaceutical terminology with an almost unsettling color palette invites multiple interpretations about trust, commerce, and contemporary life. This piece represents an important example of Ruscha's mature work in printmaking, a medium he has elevated throughout his distinguished career. Available for purchase — enquire for price and availability.
Price on Application
Auction History
Safe and Effective Medication · Ed Ruscha · Christie's · 2019-09 · $65,000
Safe and Effective Medication · Ed Ruscha · Phillips · 2020-10 · $63,000

Safe and Effective Medication · Ed Ruscha · Phillips · 2015-04 · $52,500

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