ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Man Ray's Rayographs Take Center Stage in Major Met Exhibition Through 2026

exhibition · 2026-04-19

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is showcasing 'When Objects Dream,' the inaugural major exhibition focused on Man Ray's rayographs, until February 1, 2026. This exhibition includes more than 160 pieces, with thirty-five items contributed by Trustee John Pritzker. Rayographs, which originated in 1921, are unique photographs produced without a camera by placing objects on photosensitive paper. Curators Stephanie D'Alessandro and Stephen C. Pinson have arranged the display into twelve thematic segments, beginning with the 1922 collection 'Champs délicieux.' Notable pieces such as 'Cadeau' (1921) and 'Object to be Destroyed' (1923) are featured, along with restored films. The exhibition also links Man Ray's artistry to modern creators and includes collaborations with the avant-garde group SQÜRL and others.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'When Objects Dream' focuses on Man Ray's rayographs
  • Runs through February 1, 2026 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
  • Features over 160 works including 35 from John Pritzker's promised gift
  • Rayographs were invented accidentally in a Paris darkroom in 1921
  • Curated by Stephanie D'Alessandro and Stephen C. Pinson
  • Includes newly restored 4K projections of Man Ray's films
  • Connects to contemporary artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto and Olafur Eliasson
  • Inaugurates The Met's Bluff Collaborative for Research on Dada and Surrealism

Entities

Artists

  • Man Ray
  • Tristan Tzara
  • Lee Miller
  • Hiroshi Sugimoto
  • Thomas Demand
  • Olafur Eliasson
  • Trajal Harrell
  • Alex Da Corte
  • Simon Cartwright

Institutions

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Yale University
  • Lens Media Lab
  • Bluff Collaborative for Research on Dada and Surrealism
  • Aesthetica Magazine
  • The Museum of Modern Art
  • The J. Paul Getty Museum
  • MAH Musée d'art et d'histoire
  • Yale University Art Gallery
  • Gilman Collection
  • The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
  • Société Anonyme

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • Paris
  • France
  • Geneva
  • Switzerland
  • Los Angeles
  • New Haven

Sources