William Wegman (American, born 1943), Before/On/After: Permutations I, 1972, Gelatin silver prints.
Before/On/After: William Wegman and California Conceptualism
At The Met Fifth Avenue
January 17–July 15, 2018
This month the Met opens an exhibit showcasing a large gift to their collection made by artist William Wegman. The Met has pared down Wegman’s gift of 174 videos made from 1970 to 1990, to just 90 minutes. It serves as the anchor to this survey of Conceptual art in Southern California, which is completed by photographic work by Wegman and his contemporaries, including Ed Rusha and John Baldessari.
William Wegman (American, born 1943), Chair/Lamp/Suitcase, 1970, Single-channel digital video, transferred from Sony CV 1/2-inch video tape, black-and-white, sound, 58 sec. Gift of William Wegman and Christine Burgin, 2017.
A prolific artist working in video, photography, and painting, Wegman is best known for his decades of work centered around his muse--his weimaraner, Man Ray. Wegman now almost exclusively works in photography, and has published many books for children, as well as tomes of photography.
Before/On/After: William Wegman and California Conceptualism is on display at The Met Fifth Avenue through July 15, 2018. Many of the works from this gift and exhibition can be viewed on the Met's website.
