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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. (#1 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. (#1 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. (#1 of 2-part diptych)

Portfolio TitleSuburbia
Artist Bill Owens (American, born 1938)
Dateca. 1972; printed 1998
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsUnframed: 8 x 10 inches (20.32 x 25.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Robert Koch in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Object number2007.54.53
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 in empty room.
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.


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
"We lived in our house for a year without furniture" (diptych)
"We lived in our house for a year without furniture" (diptych)
Bill Owens
ca. 1975
2005.27.4283,4284
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
Our house is built with the living room in the back, so in the evenings we sit out front of the garage and watch the traffic go by.
Our house is built with the living room in the back, so in the evenings we sit out front of the garage and watch the traffic go by.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.113
I have all the cares of home ownership and the privacy of apartment living. We have an investment in the house. So I find myself doing all the undesirable chores to protect our investment.
I have all the cares of home ownership and the privacy of apartment living. We have an investment in the house. So I find myself doing all the undesirable chores to protect our investment.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.86
Tuo-Tuo, our dog, is a very expensive household pet. It costs 30¢ a day to feed him-that's $109 a year-and $13 a month to have him groomed-that's $155 a year-not including the vet bill. We spend over $350 a year, but we don't care. We love him.
Tuo-Tuo, our dog, is a very expensive household pet. It costs 30¢ a day to feed him-that's $109 a year-and $13 a month to have him groomed-that's $155 a year-not including the vet bill. We spend over $350 a year, but we don't care. We love him.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.14
We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home.
We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.33
We enjoy having these things.
We enjoy having these things.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.15
We've been married two months and everything we own is in this room.
We've been married two months and everything we own is in this room.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.32
"I don't like you make the picture because we have shame for these house," squatter's camp, Imperial Valley
"I don't like you make the picture because we have shame for these house," squatter's camp, Imperial Valley
Dorothea Lange
April 1935
2005.27.4319
We Reach for our Dead Hearts (We Reach for Our Lost Hearts)
We Reach for our Dead Hearts (We Reach for Our Lost Hearts)
Clarence John Laughlin
February 9, 1941; printed 1950
2005.27.1715
We moved up to a nicer house. We thought we'd do better, but the real estate man got us. Closing costs were supposed to be $295 but they turned out to be $750. They have you where they want you-you've already moved into the house.
We moved up to a nicer house. We thought we'd do better, but the real estate man got us. Closing costs were supposed to be $295 but they turned out to be $750. They have you where they want you-you've already moved into the house.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.7