Eve Babitz, born in Hollywood, California, was the daughter of Mae, an artist, and Sol, a classical violinist who worked for 20th Century Fox. Her parents' artistic connections led to Babitz's own exposure to the art world at a young age, with her godfather being the renowned composer Igor Stravinsky. In 1963, Babitz gained her first taste of notoriety when she was featured in Julian Wasser's iconic photograph of her playing chess with Marcel Duchamp. The photograph, taken at the Pasadena Art Museum, has been described as one of the key documentary images of American modern art.
Babitz's personal life has often overshadowed her professional accomplishments, with much of the press focusing on her romantic associations with famous men, including Jim Morrison, Ed Ruscha, Paul Ruscha, Steve Martin, Harrison Ford, and Dan Wakefield. However, Babitz's own career as an artist and writer is notable in its own right. She began her career as an artist, working in the music industry for Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records, creating album covers for artists such as Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield. Her most famous cover, for the 1967 album Buffalo Springfield Again, remains one of her most enduring contributions to the art world.
Babitz transitioned to writing in the late 1960s, beginning with her book Eve's Hollywood. Her writing, a blend of fiction and memoir, is marked by the cultural scene of Los Angeles during that time, with references and interactions to the iconic figures that made up the scene. Babitz's writing is known for its wit, intelligence, and keen observations of the world around her.
In 1997, Babitz was severely injured when ash from a cigar she was smoking ignited her skirt, causing life-threatening third-degree burns over half her body. The incident led to a fundraising auction to pay her medical bills, with friends and family donating cash and artworks to help with her long recovery. Babitz became somewhat more reclusive after this incident, but was still willing to be interviewed on occasion. Babitz died of Huntington's disease at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 17, 2021, at the age of 78.