During the 1990s, Ed Ruscha's art continued to explore and expand upon themes and techniques that have defined his work for decades. This era is marked by Ruscha's ongoing fascination with the interplay of text and image, a hallmark of his practice. His works often incorporated words and phrases, employing a variety of fonts and formats to explore their visual and conceptual potential. This period also saw Ruscha experimenting with unconventional materials, further pushing the boundaries of traditional painting and printmaking. One of the standout series from the 1990s is the "Blue Collar" paintings, exhibited at Tony Shafrazi in 1992. Characterized by their noir aesthetic, these works in black and white delved into themes of labor and Americana, embodying a period of what some might consider as Ruscha's favorite decade for its spirit of "incredible invention" during a time when the art market was not as robust. This decade also included significant commissions such as "Picture Without Words" for the Getty, and major installations for the Miami-Dade and Denver Public Libraries, highlighting Ruscha's versatility and the breadth of his conceptual concerns​ (Sothebys.com)​. Ruscha's work in the 1990s did not shy away from engaging with the broader cultural and political contexts of the time. His involvement in the Venice Biennale, particularly with the "Chocolate Room" in 1970 and later with his "Course of Empire" paintings in 2005 (proposed in the early 2000s but harking back to his conceptual lineage), underscored his capacity to intertwine contemporary societal commentary with historical art references, thereby cementing his status as a critical voice in modern and contemporary art​ (Sothebys.com)​. Ruscha's approach to art in the 1990s—marked by his exploration of language, his experimental use of materials, and his engagement with the cultural landscape—further established his reputation as a maverick of the art world. His work from this period not only continued to challenge conventional notions of painting and printmaking but also demonstrated his nuanced understanding of the American experience, rendered through his unique visual language​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Artsy)​​ (Sothebys.com)​.