
Man RayAmerican, 1890–1976May one see it?
New York, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
early 1912
The Radnitzkys become the Rays
The Radnitzky family changes its surname to Ray; Sam chooses it in reaction to the prevailing antisemitism. Emmanuel, nicknamed 'Manny', changes his first name to Man and gradually begins to use 'Man Ray' as his name.
autumn 1912
The Ferrer Centre: anarchists and freedom
In the autumn of 1912 Ray enrols at the Ferrer Centre, established by anarchists in memory of the executed Catalan anarchist educationalist Francisco Ferrer, with drawing classes and lectures on art criticism; a period of intense and rapid artistic development begins. Emma Goldman noted there a spirit of freedom probably found nowhere else in New York at the time.
1913
Meeting the European avant-garde at the Armory Show
At the 1913 Armory Show Ray is introduced to the avant-garde practices of contemporary European artists; his early paintings display facets of cubism.
1914
Married: Adon Lacroix
1914
Meeting Picabia and Duchamp
Ray meets Francis Picabia and Marcel Duchamp; the three later become friends and collaborators, connected by their experimental, entertaining and innovative art.
1915
His first solo show
Ray's first solo show, of paintings and drawings, is held in New York.