Bill Owens

(American, born 1938)

sunday afternoon we get it together. i cook the steaks, and my wife makes the salad, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks, and my wife makes the salad, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

suburbia: 15 photographs portfolio by bill owens

Bill Owens

Suburbia: 15 Photographs Portfolio, 2010

Price on Request

my dad thinks it's a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and rake up the yard, i think he's crazy, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

My Dad thinks it's a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and rake up the yard, I think he's crazy, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

we like to play war, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

We like to play war, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

we’re really happy. our kids our healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

We’re really happy. Our kids our healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

untitled (eating, bbq, block party), from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

untitled (eating, BBQ, block party), from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

built expressly for edwards by bill owens

Bill Owens

Built expressly for Edwards, 1972

Price on Request

i bought the lawn in 6ft rolls. it's easy to handle. i prepare the ground and my wife and son helped roll out the grass. in one day you have a front yard, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

I bought the lawn in 6ft rolls. It's easy to handle. I prepare the ground and my wife and son helped roll out the grass. In one day you have a front yard, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

we really enjoy getting together with our friends to drink and dance. it's a wild party and we're having a great time, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

We really enjoy getting together with our friends to drink and dance. It's a wild party and we're having a great time, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

i enjoy cooking, dogs, cats, kids, soccer and living here, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

I enjoy cooking, dogs, cats, kids, soccer and living here, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

our house is built with the living room on the back, so in the evenings we sit out front of the garage and watch the traffic go by, from suburbia series by bill owens

Bill Owens

Our house is built with the living room on the back, so in the evenings we sit out front of the garage and watch the traffic go by, from Suburbia series, 1972

Price on Request

we feel most people have the wrong attitude towards sex, that it's nasty and to be done only in the dark. with us sex takes care of itself by bill owens

Bill Owens

We feel most people have the wrong attitude towards sex, that it's nasty and to be done only in the dark. With us sex takes care of itself, 1972

Price on Request

Biography

Timeline

1938
Born on September 25 in San Jose, CA
1953 - 1957
San Juan High School. Citrus Heights, CA
1957 - 1963
BA, industrial design, California State University, Chico, California
1960 - 1961
Nine-month hitchhiking tour of the world
1964 - 1966
Peace Corps. (Jamaica, West Indies) Hitchhiked in Central America
1966 - 1967
Entered San Francisco State College to study photography; photographed student riots; photo editor S.F. State Daily Gator
1968 - 1978
Photographer for the Livermore Independent, California; photographed Hells Angels at Rolling Stones Altamont concert; obtained $2000 grant from Alfred Heller, publisher of Cry California magazine to work on suburban photographs
1978 - Present
Freelance photographer
1982 - Present
Beer maker and distiller

Exhibitions

2009
Altamont, Suburbia, Leisure, Riots, Galerie Alex Daniels - Reflex Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (solo)
2005
PhotoEspana. Madrid, Spain: Bill Owens. June 1-July 17
Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art at the Geffen Contemporary. Street Credibility January 25-June 7, 2004
Photographs Do Not Bend. “ Landscape???” January 30-April 17, 2004
Whitney Museum of American Art. Inside Out: Portrait photographs from the permanent collection. February 7-May 23, 2004
Reflex Modern Art Gallery Amsterdam, “Beauty of Darkness’ April 24-June 12, 2004.
Photographs Do Not Bend. Nine April 30-June 12, 2004
Kennedy Boesky Photographs Marianne Boesky Gallery. Seventies Color Photography William Christenberry, Mark Cohen, John Divola, William Eggleston. Mitch Epstein, Nan Golden. Helen Levitt. Mary Ellen Mark, Joel Meyerwitz, Richard Misrach, Bill Owens, Ed Ruscha. Steven Shore, Joel Sternfeld. January 3-January 31, 2004
USC Fisher Gallery. University of Southern California, “Game Face-What Does a Female Athlete Look Like?” September 9-November 1, 2004
San Jose Museum of Art. It’s About Time: Celebrating 35 Years. October 2, 2004-February 13, 2005