Meret Oppenheim

(Swiss, 1913–1985)

Meret Oppenheim was a German-born Swiss artist and photographer. Considered a key figure in the Surrealist movement, her work focused on the marginalization of women, but also the subversion of art itself. In what is considered her most famous work Object (Le Déjeuner en Fourrure) (1936), the artist covered a teacup, saucer, and spoon in a layer of Chinese gazelle fur, creating a contrast of domestic objects with the expensive furs worn by refined women. “There is no difference between man and woman: there is only artist or poet. Sex plays no role whatsoever. That is why I refuse to participate in exhibitions of woman only,” she once declared. Born on October 6, 1913, in Berlin, Germany Oppenheim moved to Paris at the age of 18 where she attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and fell into the circles of the Surrealists. She famously posed for one of  Man Ray’s most famous photographs Erotique Voilee (1933), in which Oppenheim posed nude covered in ink at a printing press. In 1936, she had her first solo exhibition in Basel, Switzerland and began her investigations into female exploitation. Oppenheim’s work set the tone for several later artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, and Ana Mendieta. She died on November 15, 1985, in Basel, Switzerland. Today, much of her archive is held at the the Museum of Fine Arts in Bern, and is also held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others.

Meret Oppenheim News

Museums & Institutions

Inside Meret Oppenheim's 'Otherworldly, Witty, Whimsical' Show at MoMA, the Swiss Surrealist's First U.S. Museum Retrospective in a Generation

by Sarah Cascone
Inside Meret Oppenheim's 'Otherworldly, Witty, Whimsical' Show at MoMA, the Swiss Surrealist's First U.S. Museum Retrospective in a Generation
Art World

Meret Oppenheim's Furry Teacup Stirred Up a Public Sensation—Here Are 3 Things You May Not Know About the Classic Surrealist Masterpiece 'Object'

by Katie White
Meret Oppenheim's Furry Teacup Stirred Up a Public Sensation—Here Are 3 Things You May Not Know About the Classic Surrealist Masterpiece 'Object'
Art Fairs

viennacontemporary 2016 Continues Success in Second Year

by Alyssa Buffenstein
viennacontemporary 2016 Continues Success in Second Year

Meret Oppenheim Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Meret Oppenheim (1,004 results)
Parapapillonneries - Der..., 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Parapapillonneries - Der..., 1976–1976

Sale Date: May 8, 2003

Auction Closed

Japanischer Garten, 1977–1977

Meret Oppenheim

Japanischer Garten, 1977–1977

Sale Date: May 8, 2003

Auction Closed

Lune, soleil et oeuf, 1953–1953

Meret Oppenheim

Lune, soleil et oeuf, 1953–1953

Sale Date: April 14, 2003

Auction Closed

Papageien-Tulpen, 1978–1978

Meret Oppenheim

Papageien-Tulpen, 1978–1978

Sale Date: December 7, 2002

Auction Closed

Mann im Nebel, 1975–1975

Meret Oppenheim

Mann im Nebel, 1975–1975

Sale Date: December 4, 2002

Auction Closed

Tout toujours, 1950–1950

Meret Oppenheim

Tout toujours, 1950–1950

Sale Date: November 29, 2002

Auction Closed

In der Nähe von Brasilia, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

In der Nähe von Brasilia, 1976–1976

Sale Date: November 27, 2002

Auction Closed

Die Seidenmotte und die stolze Rosamunde, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Die Seidenmotte und die stolze Rosamunde, 1976–1976

Sale Date: November 27, 2002

Auction Closed

Silberschwanz, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Silberschwanz, 1976–1976

Sale Date: November 27, 2002

Auction Closed

Der Flaggenfalter, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Der Flaggenfalter, 1976–1976

Sale Date: November 27, 2002

Auction Closed

Der Zypressenschwärmer, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Der Zypressenschwärmer, 1976–1976

Sale Date: November 27, 2002

Auction Closed

Steine-schwarze Tropfen, die zur Mitte..., 1974–1974

Meret Oppenheim

Steine-schwarze Tropfen, die zur Mitte..., 1974–1974

Sale Date: November 7, 2002

Auction Closed

La chaleur folie, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

La chaleur folie, 1971–1971

Sale Date: June 26, 2002

Auction Closed

Table with bird's feet, 1939–1939

Meret Oppenheim

Table with bird's feet, 1939–1939

Sale Date: June 25, 2002

Auction Closed

Das Schulheft, 1973–1973

Meret Oppenheim

Das Schulheft, 1973–1973

Sale Date: June 8, 2002

Auction Closed

Mon drapeau, 1974–1974

Meret Oppenheim

Mon drapeau, 1974–1974

Sale Date: June 6, 2002

Auction Closed

Parapapillonneries - Der..., 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Parapapillonneries - Der..., 1976–1976

Sale Date: May 2, 2002

Auction Closed

Parapapillonneries - Der Flaggenfalter, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Parapapillonneries - Der Flaggenfalter, 1976–1976

Sale Date: May 2, 2002

Auction Closed

Parapapillonneries - Silberschwanz, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Parapapillonneries - Silberschwanz, 1976–1976

Sale Date: May 2, 2002

Auction Closed

Komposition, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Komposition, 1971–1971

Sale Date: March 26, 2002

Auction Closed

Komposition, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Komposition, 1971–1971

Sale Date: March 26, 2002

Auction Closed

Komposition, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Komposition, 1971–1971

Sale Date: March 26, 2002

Auction Closed

L'anatomie d'une femme morte, 1934–1934

Meret Oppenheim

L'anatomie d'une femme morte, 1934–1934

Sale Date: November 30, 2001

Auction Closed

Schwarze Punkte im All

Meret Oppenheim

Schwarze Punkte im All

Sale Date: November 19, 2001

Auction Closed

English (US)

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