Sound Artist – Man Ray

Man Ray, born in 1890, was an American artist who considered himself a painter above all. He was a portrait photographer and he’s best known for his avant-garde photography in the art world. “Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal”.   In 1999, he was recognized as one of the 25 most influential artists of the 20th century by ARTnews magazine. His photography explored film, painting, sculpture, collage, assemblage, and “prototypes of what would eventually be called performance and conceptual art”.

It’s interesting to note that Man Ray did not disclose much information of his early years and personal or family life. His original name was Emmanuel Radnitzky, a name he refused to acknowledge due to his private lifestyle. He seems to have preferred being disassociated with his family life. What makes Man Ray’s art different from others is the relationship between his work and clothing and sewing. Art historians have also noted similarity in his collage and painting techniques to those used in making clothing. His similarities to other artists include the fact that he educated himself by attending museums and art galleries that influenced his works.  

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