Bill Owens - Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

Works by this Artist in the Collection

Food table, Tri-Valley Area, Northern California from the series Leisure

I really enjoy being here because it’s my pleasure to help people. They’d have to fire me before I’d quit. I know I’m loved here and vice versa. from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

Being a broker is the old “buy’em low, sell ‘em high game. After the one o’clock bell, brokers have fifteen minutes to close their market orders. This is done by shouting your bids and positioning your hands. Palms out means sell, palms in means buy. I can assure you it’s a fun game to win. San Francisco, California from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

I’m a table worker inspecting birth control pills. After working here for two years, I can’t believe there are any babies being born anywhere. My husband is a minister. When your kids go to college you need the money, so here I am. from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

As a kid out of the barrio, I am lucky to be able to fulfill my dream of being an illustrator. My advertising teacher in art school told me my family would starve when I turned down a job at a big ad agency to do it, but working at home lets me be with my four kids. I can watch them grow up and make sure that they will all go to college. My wife, Imelda and I are most proud of this. I thank God, my wife and my reps. from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)