“This project began when I was cooped up in Chicago. As a native Texan, I missed the big sky of my youth and so set out on the road with no goal other than photographing the expanse of West Texas.
Patterns emerged after a few trips; I began to view the boom and bust cycle of Western and Panhandle Texas as a never-ending loop. Something is built in the middle of nowhere and nature eventually destroys it. Strike oil, build town, create a community, oil bust, destroy a community. Repeat and repeat. Yet people keep going at it.
At the same time, I saw a visual beauty in the space and the objects against the space. Like those who tried to build out there, I am trying to impose a photographic composition onto untameable openness. To little avail but I keep going at it.
These are not pretty pictures. Too many people do that well. For me, honky tonks and train tracks are beauty. I prefer an abandoned car dealership over a beautiful sunset.”
Al Oliver
February 2013
“Prada Marfa” $1,525.00 framed 26w x 21″h
“Claude Train” $1,525.00 framed 21w x 26″h
“Tulia Grain” $1,525.00 framed 26w x 21″h
“Bellhop” $1,525.00 framed 26w x 21″h

























































