No artist has bridged the gap between photography and
painting quite like John Baldessari. For over 40 years, he's given the world
art that truly blurs the line between the two, normally thought of as separate
arts. And for the most part, John Baldessari prints and his works have been
well received by many critics and fans of all ages.

Now in 2010, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art—or
LACMA—Baldessari is front and center to the Los Angeles
crowd with his new show, "John Baldessari: Pure Beauty." The show
acts as a complete retrospective of his work, and gives an all encompassing
view on the progression and growth of his art.

The whole retrospective begins with some of his earliest
paintings, as Baldessari originally began his works as a painter. By viewing
some of his paintings, dated around 1962—you really get to a great view on the
marvelous beginnings of this prolific artist. Some of his earliest pieces are
no doubt the roots of Conceptual Art. For example his work, "Tips for
Artists Who Want To Sell" is one of his most famous pieces, and gives a
humorous take on the role of the artist—and what an artist must to do
captivate. The last line says "Subject Matter is important: It has been
said that paintings with cows and hens in them collect dust—while the same
paintings with bulls and roosters sell." Quite clever for the work of a
younger Baldessari.

His later works—available in the form of John Baldessari
Prints—deal with the merging of photography and painting. Formally—this is
definitely some of the earliest appropriation art, as the compositions are done
over culturally significant film stills. For example his work, "Foot and
Stocking" gives the prolific vision, and original use of color. The John
Baldessari prints of said works, are quite hard to find—and collectors scramble
to collect this culturally mind-bending work. One of his most prolific works is
no doubt, "God Nose" which depicts a decapitated nose, in the middle
of a sky with clouds. The bold statement is clear—as is the pure magnificence
of John Baldessari prints and his work. Actually, "God Nose" is one
of the most sought after Baldessari works, as it really marks the end of his
career as a conceptual artist—and marks the start of his more culturally
relevant work, in his newer appropriation style.

Baldessari's ability to close the gap between the camera and
the brush is a skill that will not be soon forgotten. His work in this light is
sometimes happy, and other times can emit emotions of surprise—but the
inventiveness of his artwork is unquestionable. Through the 140 plus works on
display at the LACMA, the musings and concepts of Baldessari are made quite
evident.

And why exactly is this combination of painting and
photography visible in John Baldessari prints such as "Person with
Guitar"—so important? Today is the media age, and any citizen who lives in
the year 2010 is bombarded with images at all times—so to a great degree we're
largely desensitized to the power of great imagery. And photographs have also
lead the decreased significant in paintings. Yet Baldessari has a solution—he
gives us photographs of cultural importance, things we should FEEL and SEE—yet
paints atop them in the most original ways possible to give us the most fresh
view possible. He reintroduces the power into powerful imagery.

In all the show was beautiful—and perfectly themed for the
year 2010, in a
time when people often take artistic media for granted. Going through a
complete retrospective of the work of John Baldessari is an experience that I
could recommend to anyone. It's heavily evident from his magnificent and
prolific works that John Baldessari prints and original works will definitely
be assets in the future. After all—this man created conceptual art, and really
truly does blur the line between photography and painting.