In Pictures: See Why Charles Ray’s Startling Art Continues to Unsettle in Shows in New York, Maryland, and Elsewhere

A slew of international exhibitions are currently highlighting Ray's work.

Installation view,
Installation view, "Charles Ray: Figure Ground." © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Walking into the galleries of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, one might expect to encounter ancient nudes rendered in marble. It’s surprising, then, to see a life-size Japanese cypress sculpture of a shirtless, man-bunned, flip-flopped young man, balanced elegantly atop a wooden plinth and titled—of all things—Archangel. But then again, as a work by the always-surprising sculptor Charles Ray, it makes a lot more sense.

In the Met’s “Charles Ray: Figure Ground,” the artist’s first solo show in a New York museum in almost 25 years, pieces from every part of his career are on display: from his works based on Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to faithful incarnations of objects and a family of fiberglass nudes, holding hands like twisted dolls.

Ray is having a moment. Right now, in addition to “Figure Ground,” the artist’s work is on display in an ongoing presentation at Glenstone, in Potomac, Md.; the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Bourse de Commerce in Paris; and come April, it will be featured in the Whitney Biennial.

Below, see images from “Charles Ray: Figure Ground,” on view at the Met Fifth Avenue through June 5, 2022, and additional shows.

Installation view, "Charles Ray: Figure Ground." Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen. © Charles Ray.

Installation view, “Charles Ray: Figure Ground.” © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Installation view, "Charles Ray: Figure Ground." Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen. © Charles Ray.

Installation view, “Charles Ray: Figure Ground.” © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, <i>Sarah Williams</i> (2021). Collection of the artist, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery © Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery photograph by Charles Ray Studio.

Charles Ray, Sarah Williams (2021). © Charles Ray, collection of the artist. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Charles Ray Studio.

Charles Ray, Family Romance (1993). © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, <i>Chicken</i> (2007). Glenstone Museum, Potomac, Md.; Photo credit: Josh White © Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery.

Charles Ray, Chicken (2007), at Glenstone, Potomac, Md. © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Josh White,

Charles Ray, <I>Reclining Woman</I> (2018). Courtesy the FLAG Art Foundation; photograph by Sean Logue © Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery.

Charles Ray, Reclining Woman (2018). © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the FLAG Art Foundation and Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Sean Logue.

Charles Ray, <i>Archangel</i>, (2021). Collection of the artist, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery; photograph by Takeru Koroda © Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery.

Charles Ray, Archangel (2021). © Charles Ray. Collection of the artist, courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Takeru Koroda.

© Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery. Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, A copy of ten marble fragments of the Great Eleusinian Relief (2017). © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Ron Amstutz.

Charles Ray, Untitled, (1973, printed 1989). © Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery.Photo credit: Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, Untitled (1973/1989). © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, Huck and Jim (2014). © Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery. Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, Huck and Jim (2014). © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Josh White.

© Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery. Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, Tractor (2005), on view at Glenstone, Potomac, Md. © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Beth Phillips.

© Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery. Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, Mime (2014), at Kunstmuseum Basel. © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Josh White.

Charles Ray, Boy with Frog (2006). © Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery. Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, Boy with Frog (2006). © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Charles Ray, 81x83x85=86x83x85 (1989), at Glenstone, Potomac, Md. © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Ron Amstutz.

Installation view, "Charles Ray: Figure Ground." Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen. © Charles Ray.

Installation view, “Charles Ray: Figure Ground.” © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Installation view, “Charles Ray: Figure Ground.” © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

Installation view, "Charles Ray: Figure Ground." Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen. © Charles Ray.

Installation view, “Charles Ray: Figure Ground.” © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.

 


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