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Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks and my wife makes the salad.
Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks and my wife makes the salad.

Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks and my wife makes the salad.

Portfolio TitleSuburbia
Artist Bill Owens (American, born 1938)
Dateca. 1972; printed 1998
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsUnframed: 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.32 cm)
Credit LineGift of Robert Koch in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Object number2007.54.9
SignedVerso: artist's signature in pencil; photographer's stamp: "Copyright Bill Owens/ Publishers Copy/ Printed 1998"
Edition/State/Proofed. 1/5
On View
Not on view
Collections
DescriptionCouple standing next to barbeque grill.
Portfolio; These prints were made in 1998 at the time of the publication of a new (expanded) edition of the original Suburbia book.
Copyright© Bill Owens
Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.


This is our second annual Fourth of July block party. This year thirty-three families come for beer, barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, macaroni salad, and watermelon.
This is our second annual Fourth of July block party. This year thirty-three families come for beer, barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, macaroni salad, and watermelon.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.80
I love to cook. Meal time is the only time the family is together. In spite of my modern kitchen, cooking dinner for six takes two hours. Then the kids inhale the food in minutes.
I love to cook. Meal time is the only time the family is together. In spite of my modern kitchen, cooking dinner for six takes two hours. Then the kids inhale the food in minutes.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.25
My hobby is drinking. On the weekends I enjoy getting together with my friends and boozing.
My hobby is drinking. On the weekends I enjoy getting together with my friends and boozing.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.29
It's a great pleasure to watch yourself make love in the six dozen mirrors that line the ceilings and walls. I've spent a tremendous amount of thought and planning to get the total effect of the bedroom.
It's a great pleasure to watch yourself make love in the six dozen mirrors that line the ceilings and walls. I've spent a tremendous amount of thought and planning to get the total effect of the bedroom.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.36
We really enjoy living in a mobile home. My hobby is collecting coins and my wife plays her Wurlitzer for entertainment.
We really enjoy living in a mobile home. My hobby is collecting coins and my wife plays her Wurlitzer for entertainment.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.23
I put my hair up once or twice a week. It's the only way I can get curls in it. When it's combed out, I'm willing to be seen in public.
I put my hair up once or twice a week. It's the only way I can get curls in it. When it's combed out, I'm willing to be seen in public.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.76
This isn't what we really want-the tract house, the super car, etc....But as long as we are wound up in this high speed environment, we will probably never get out of it!
This isn't what we really want-the tract house, the super car, etc....But as long as we are wound up in this high speed environment, we will probably never get out of it!
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.20
We really enjoy getting together with our friends to drink and dance. It's a wild party and we're having a great time.
We really enjoy getting together with our friends to drink and dance. It's a wild party and we're having a great time.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.84
Before the dissolution of our marriage my husband and I owned a bar. One day a toilet broke and we brought it home.
Before the dissolution of our marriage my husband and I owned a bar. One day a toilet broke and we brought it home.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.87
This is Valerie's world in miniature. She makes it what she wants it to be...without war, racial hate or misunderstanding. Ken and Barbie (dolls) are man and woman rather than Mom and Dad. They enjoy living and having a camper truck is the good life.
This is Valerie's world in miniature. She makes it what she wants it to be...without war, racial hate or misunderstanding. Ken and Barbie (dolls) are man and woman rather than Mom and Dad. They enjoy living and having a camper truck is the good life.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.34
Basically we are very much alike, the same individual. Our temperaments however are different, we reflect on things differently. My son was raised to think for himself. My father is an ex-army officer, I'm an ex-Marine.
Basically we are very much alike, the same individual. Our temperaments however are different, we reflect on things differently. My son was raised to think for himself. My father is an ex-army officer, I'm an ex-Marine.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.103
We lived in our house for a year without any living room furniture. We wanted to furnish the room with things we loved, not early attic or leftovers. Now we have everything but the pictures and the lamps. (#2 of 2-part diptych)
We lived in our house for a year without any living room furniture. We wanted to furnish the room with things we loved, not early attic or leftovers. Now we have everything but the pictures and the lamps. (#2 of 2-part diptych)
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.52