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.” © 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.
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, Chicken (2007), at Glenstone, Potomac, Md. © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Josh White,
Charles Ray, Reclining Woman (2018). © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the FLAG Art Foundation and Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Sean Logue.
Charles Ray, Archangel (2021). © Charles Ray. Collection of the artist, courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Takeru Koroda.
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 (1973/1989). © 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 of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Josh White.
Charles Ray, Tractor (2005), on view at Glenstone, Potomac, Md. © Charles Ray. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery. Photo: Beth Phillips.
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 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.” © 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.” © Charles Ray. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Anna-Marie Kellen.