Man Ray

Painter, Photographer, Filmmaker (1890–1976)






Man Ray was primarily known for his photography, which spanned both the Dada and Surrealism movements.


In 1915, Man Ray met French artist Marcel Duchamp, and together they collaborated on many inventions and formed the New York group of Dada artists.


 His experiments with photography included rediscovering how to make camera-less pictures, which he called rayographs. He produced major works in a variety of media, but considered himself a painter above all. He was best known for his photography, and he was a renowned fashion and portrait photographer.  Ray became a leading figure in the Dada movement in New York. Dadaism, which takes its name from the French nickname for a rocking horse, challenged existing notions of art and literature, and encouraged spontaneity. One of Ray's famous works from this time was "The Gift," a sculpture that incorporated two found objects. He glued tacks to the work surface of an iron to create the piece.

 He also developed a thriving career as a fashion photographer, taking pictures for such magazines as Vogue. These commercial endeavors supported his fine art efforts. Ray discovered a new way to create interesting images by accident in his darkroom called Rayographs. these photos were made by placing and manipulating objects on pieces of photosensitive paper.