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The Beanery

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description The Beanery Overview

The Beanery is an immersive walk-in sculptural installation created by American artist Edward Kienholz in 1965. The artwork is a detailed environmental assemblage that reconstructs the interior of Barney's Beanery, a historic tavern located in West Hollywood, California. Inside the installation, the space is populated by seventeen sculptural figures with clock faces instead of human heads, positioned at the bar and tables. The piece is recognized as a major work of contemporary installation art and is held in the collection of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

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What is The Beanery by Edward Kienholz?

The Beanery is an immersive walk-in environmental assemblage created by American artist Edward Kienholz in 1965. The artwork is a detailed, room-sized reconstruction of the interior of Barney's Beanery, a historic tavern in West Hollywood, California.

What unusual detail is featured on the figures inside The Beanery?

Inside the sculptural installation, the figures representing the bar's patrons have actual wall clocks instead of human faces. The clocks are all set to the exact same time of 10:10, a surreal critique of the mechanical, repetitive nature of routine.

What real-life bar inspired Edward Kienholz's The Beanery?

The installation faithfully reconstructs Barney's Beanery, a famous, historically rough tavern located in West Hollywood. Kienholz was a frequent visitor to the bar and sought to capture the gritty, distinct atmosphere of its regular patrons.

Where is Edward Kienholz's The Beanery currently located?

The original installation is permanently housed in the modern art collection at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Because it is an immersive walk-in room, it requires special architectural installation to be properly displayed.

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