Man Ray and His Muses – TAG Art Museum, Qingdao, China (January 14 – March 27, 2022)
From his earliest years in New York to his final decades in Paris, Man Ray’s art unfolded in close dialogue with the remarkable figures who surrounded him. They were his models and collaborators, his partners and his peers; many were great artists, writers, and photographers. They took part in his restless experiments with new techniques and shaped the images for which he is best remembered.
Drawing on more than 100 works, Man Ray: The Women of His Life traces these relationships across four chapters: New York (1890–1921), Paris: A Movable Feast (1921–1940), Hollywood (1940–1951), and Paris (1951–1976). The exhibition brings together photographs, solarizations and rayographs, drawings, lithographs, objects, jewelry, film stills, and archival documents. Together they reconstruct the creative circles in which Man Ray lived and worked.
At its heart are the women whose presence defined each period of his career:
Around them appear the writers, patrons, performers, and designers of the period, among them Gertrude Stein, Nancy Cunard, Elsa Triolet, Marie-Laure de Noailles, Peggy Guggenheim, Coco Chanel, Josephine Baker, Dorothea Tanning, and Juliette Gréco.
Man Ray’s portraits of women do not seek to possess or control their sitters. Instead, they convey independence, intelligence, and freedom. Presented alongside iconic works such as Glass Tears, Object to Be Destroyed, and Observatory Time – The Lovers, these images reveal an artist in constant dialogue with remarkable women. They also pay tribute to all the women, famous and lesser known, who crossed his path and left their mark on his work.
Curated by the Man Ray International Association, Paris.
The exhibition comprises over 100 works, primarily framed photographs (vintage and later gelatin silver prints, solarizations, and rayographs) and works on paper (lithographs, serigraphs, drawings, books, and archival documents), together with sculptures, objects, and gold jewelry.
Conservation: Standard museum conditions for photographs and works on paper are required, with low, controlled light levels (typically 50 lux) and stable temperature and relative humidity. Detailed values will be confirmed in the lenders’ conditions and facility report.
Security: Jewelry, small objects, books, and documents must be displayed in secure, lockable vitrines. Gallery surveillance and controlled access are required during opening hours and outside them.
Space: Recommended exhibition area of approx. 500–700 sqm. The exhibition is modular and can be adapted to spaces from approx. 300 to 1,000 sqm. No special ceiling height is required.
Couriers will accompany the works and supervise installation and dismantling. Temporary export permits, coordination with lenders, and coordination with the Man Ray Trust are handled by the organizers.
Star objects: Some of the most celebrated images in the history of photography, including Ingres’s Violin, Black and White, Glass Tears, and Object to Be Destroyed, alongside Observatory Time – The Lovers.
Treasure collection: Original works from Man Ray’s own circle, including solarizations, rayographs, unique prints, sculptures and objects, and gold jewelry designed by the artist.
Exhibition partners
Curated by the Man Ray International Association, Paris.
Man Ray and His Muses – TAG Art Museum, Qingdao, China (January 14 – March 27, 2022)
Man Ray and the Women – The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan (October 22, 2022 – January 22, 2023)
Please fill in the form to send your message. The owner of the listing will receive your enquiry and will then be able to answer you.
Please select the community profile of your partner and the type of partnership. Your partner will receive an email for confirmation.
Subscribe to receive regular industry updates every 2 months
Menu
