Thrift Store Paintings (Paperback)

by Paul Ruscha (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Gems culled from thrift shops reveal a "twilight zone where high art, popular culture and the collective unconscious overlap."--The New York Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Heavy Industry Publications (March 2, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879158019
• ISBN-13: 978-1879158016
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,261,249 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pink Elephant with Bottles and Eye in Cocktail Glass, November 11, 2003

By	Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Bryan Tucker contributed the Pink Elephant theme for this wonderful work, and I just don't know what to say, other than I am totally and completely overwhelmed. This is a coffee table book for those of us who are a bit on the silly side. It is a beautifully rendered book, with perfect color reproduction, and the most amazing paintings you have ever seen in any one place (other than the Museum of Bad Art, of course. See http://glyphs.com/moba for more information on MOBA.)

The works here are wonderful and span every style. My personal favorite is probably 'Woman in Barrel with Yellow Roses, Typewriter and Chair on Boxes', but it only just nudges out other luminary works such as 'Purple Toilet Paper and Flower,' and 'Turtle in Hat with Cigar, Saying "Ybysaia (Baby)."'

Anyone who loves art seriously needs this book in their collection. Leave it out for company...I guarantee you will get comments and compliments!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'd be surprised . . ., August 27, 2001

By	"jaxonian2" (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews

You'd be surprised what you find at thrift stores! This book is a collection of thrift store art, but that doesn't mean all of the works are cheesy. Some are gorgeous, some are wannabe something great, and some, well, yes there are some cheesy pieces. The paintings are pleasant enough to put out on your coffee table and interesting enough to discuss-maybe even argue over. There are various themes and genres covered, from still life to child portraits to surrealism. There is an index giving media info and artist's name. I would have liked to known the regions these paintings were found. However, this book is a keeper!

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE THIS BOOK!, June 28, 2000

By	amysamm "amysamm" (SF, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This is a great book. All the book consists of is various paintings that have been found in resale shops. Most of the artists who created these paintings are unknown. The author of the book has let the paintings speak for themselves, as there are no introductions or examinations of the paintings.

My personal favorite is the painting of the roll of toilet paper done in a monochromatic scheme of blue with a small flower next to the roll.

If you are looking for a coffee table book that doesn't take itself too seriously - you have to get this book!

You'll laugh, you'll cry, this book is better than "cats"!