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Man Ray Sculptures

American, 1890-1976

Born Emmanuel Radnitzky, Man Ray was a famous American filmmaker, painter and photographer. His career is distinctive, above all, for the success he achieved in both the United States and Europe. First maturing at the center of American modernism in the 1910s, he made Paris his home in the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1940s, he crossed the Atlantic once again and spent periods in New York and Hollywood. 

Ray’s art spanned painting, sculpture, film, prints and poetry, and in his long career, he worked in styles influenced by Cubism, Futurism, Dada and Surrealism. He also successfully navigated the worlds of commercial and fine art and came to be a sought-after fashion photographer. Ray is perhaps most remembered for his photographs of the inter-war years, in particular, the camera-less pictures he called "Rayographs," but he always regarded himself first and foremost as a painter. Although he matured as an abstract painter, Ray eventually disregarded the traditional superiority painting held over photography and happily moved between different forms. Dada and Surrealism were important in encouraging this attitude; they also persuaded him that the idea that motivates a work of art was more important than the work of art itself. 

André Breton once described Ray as a pre-Surrealist, something which accurately describes his natural affinity for the style. Even before the movement had coalesced, in the mid-1920s, his work, influenced by Marcel Duchamp, had Surrealist undertones. He would continue to draw on the movement's ideas throughout his life. Ray's work has ultimately been very important in popularizing Surrealism.

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Artist: Man Ray
Cadeau
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
An iconic and historic work of art, Man Ray's Le Cadeau ("The Gift"), is an early ready-made created by the artist in 1921 during his Dada period. Typical of the perverse, subversive...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Belle Main (Les mains libre) - Bronze sculpture by Man Ray - 1971
By Man Ray
Located in Roma, IT
Belle Main (Les mains libre) is a bronze sculpture realized by Man Ray in 1971. Signed with initials and numbered on the base. Cast by Fratelli Barberis in Turin for Luciano Anselm...
Category

1970s Contemporary Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Cadeau
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
Cast metal multiple. Signed, titled and numbered 2382/5000. Initialed and numbered 2382/5000 on the printed plastic justification card. Cast by the Mirano Foundry, Venice. Produced b...
Category

1970s Dada Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Cadeau
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
Man Ray was a American avant-garde artist and leading figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements. Conceived in 1921, Cadeau is from an edition of 5000, each signed and numbered with...
Category

Early 20th Century Surrealist Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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Previously Available Items
Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau")
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
Man Ray Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau"), 1974 Cast iron with brown patina and copper nails. Stamped by artist's estate, Signed, inscribed and numbered in white paint; 4-page brochure from Art...
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1970s Dada Man Ray Sculptures

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Copper, Iron

Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau")
Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau")
H 6.5 in W 4 in D 3.5 in
Cadeau
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
An iconic and historic work of art, Man Ray's Le Cadeau ("The Gift"), is an early ready-made created by the artist in 1921 during his Dada period. Typical of the perverse, subversive...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Man Ray Sculptures

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Iron

Cadeau
Cadeau
H 6.5 in W 4 in D 3.5 in
Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau")
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
Man Ray Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau"), 1974 Cast iron with brown patina and copper nails. Signed, inscribed & numbered. Laminated COA. Edition of 5000 (1229/5000) Stamped by artist's estate, Signed, inscribed and numbered 1229/5000 in white paint; With laminated card numbered in black marker and signed, 4-page brochure from Arturo Schwarz Luciano Anselmino, Turin, pub. Foundry: Mirano, Venice Man Ray's iconic Cadeau (French for 'gift') is one of the most recognizable icons of the Surrealist movement. The work is in its original packaging, beautiful...
Category

20th Century Dada Man Ray Sculptures

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Copper, Iron

Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau")
Gift, 1921 ("Cadeau")
H 6.5 in W 4 in D 3.5 in
Cadeau - Early 20th Century, Man Ray, Surrealism, Iron, Still-Life Sculptures
By Man Ray
Located in Köln, DE
The "Cadeau" is the first surreal sculpture. Man Ray developed the idea for his first exhibition in Paris in 1921. He bought the iron and the nails, made the sculpture and brought it...
Category

1920s Surrealist Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Cadeau
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
An iconic and historic work of art, Man Ray's Le Cadeau ("The Gift"), is an early ready-made created by the artist in 1921 during his Dada period. Typical of the perverse, subversive...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Cadeau
H 6.5 in W 4 in D 3.5 in
Herma Hermaphrodyte, by Man Ray, Sculpture, Silver Aluminium, 1970's, Nude
By Man Ray
Located in Geneva, CH
Herma Hermaphrodyte, by Man Ray, Sculpture, Silver Aluminium, 1970's, Nude Herma Hermaphrodyte Edition Artcurial 51/550 1975 Alluminium H. 28 cm without base Signed and numbered on...
Category

1970s Post-War Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

ABS

Cadeau - Early 20th Century, Man Ray, Surrealism, Iron, Still-Life Sculptures
By Man Ray
Located in Köln, DE
The "Cadeau" is the first surreal sculpture. Man Ray developed the idea for his first exhibition in Paris in 1921. He bought the iron and the nails, made the sculpture and brought it...
Category

1920s Surrealist Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Cadeau, Man Ray
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
An iconic and historic work of art, Man Ray's Le Cadeau ("The Gift"), is an early ready-made created by the artist in 1921 during his Dada period. Typical of t...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Cadeau, Man Ray
H 6.5 in W 4 in D 3.5 in
MAN RAY - Cadeau, Limited edition Sculpture - Dada, Surrealist
By Man Ray
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Cadeau, 1921 Later edition, published in 1974 Medium: Sculpture Media: Iron & copper nails Numbered edition: 1966/5000 Size: 16.5 x 10.2 x 8.9 cm Observations: "Cadeau" or "The Gift"...
Category

1970s Dada Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Iron, Copper

Cadeau, Man Ray
By Man Ray
Located in New York, NY
An iconic and historic work of art, Man Ray's Le Cadeau ("The Gift"), is an early ready-made created by the artist in 1921 during his Dada period. Typical of t...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Man Ray Sculptures

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Iron

Cadeau, Man Ray
H 6.5 in W 4 in D 3.5 in
MAN RAY - Cadeau, Limited edition Sculpture - Dada, Surrealist
By Man Ray
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Cadeau, 1921 Later edtion, published in 1974 Medium: Sculpture Media: Iron & copper nails Edition: 5000 Size: 16.5 x 10.2 x 8.9 cm Observations: "Cadeau" or "The Gift" is one of the ...
Category

1970s Dada Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Copper, Iron

MAN RAY - Cadeau, Limited edition Sculpture - Dada, Surrealist
By Man Ray
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Cadeau, 1921 Later edtion, published in 1974 Medium: Sculpture Media: Iron & copper nails Edition: 5000 Size: 16.5 x 10.2 x 8.9 cm Observations: "Cadeau" or "The Gift" is one of the ...
Category

1970s Dada Man Ray Sculptures

Materials

Copper, Iron

Man Ray sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Man Ray sculptures available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Man Ray in metal, iron, bronze and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Man Ray sculptures, so small editions measuring 4 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jedediah Morfit, Glenn Green, and Dan Namingha. Man Ray sculptures prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,000 and tops out at $23,475, while the average work can sell for $2,473.
Questions About Man Ray Sculptures
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Man Ray created paintings, collages and films, but he is best known for photography. While working in his darkroom, he discovered that by moving objects around on photosensitive paper he could create unique images dubbed rayographs or photograms. Find a collection of Man Ray art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Man Ray, an American photographer, painter and filmmaker, was known for his revolutionary experimentation with photography, including making “cameraless” pictures by placing objects on light-sensitive paper and exposing the paper to light. Ray called these photographs “rayographs.” On 1stDibs, Shop a collection of authentic Man Ray photographs from top sellers worldwide.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024
    Man Ray, the Surrealist photographer, was born Emmanuel Radnitzky. His career is distinctive for the success he achieved in both the United States and Europe. Ray’s art spanned painting, sculpture, film, prints and poetry, and in his long career, he worked in styles influenced by Cubism, Futurism, Dada and Surrealism. He also successfully navigated the worlds of commercial and fine art and became a sought-after fashion photographer. Ray is perhaps most remembered for his photographs of the interwar years, in particular the camera-less pictures he called "Rayographs." Shop a variety of Man Ray art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024
    Man Ray changed his name in response to antisemitic attitudes that were impacting his work during the early 20th century. "Man" came from his nickname, Manny, shortened from Emmanuel. For his surname, Ray took the first two and final letters of his birth name, Radnitzky. Explore a range of Man Ray art on 1stDibs.

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