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)
Pelztasse und -löffel, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Pelztasse und -löffel, 1971–1971

Sale Date: November 19, 2001

Auction Closed

Garten mit Ziehbrunnen

Meret Oppenheim

Garten mit Ziehbrunnen

Sale Date: November 8, 2001

Auction Closed

Augen, 1963–1963

Meret Oppenheim

Augen, 1963–1963

Sale Date: June 19, 2001

Auction Closed

Très peu de vie, 1977

Meret Oppenheim

Très peu de vie, 1977

Sale Date: June 11, 2001

Auction Closed

Ici habite la sorcière, 1969–1969

Meret Oppenheim

Ici habite la sorcière, 1969–1969

Sale Date: May 30, 2001

Auction Closed

Spirale - Schlange im Rechteck

Meret Oppenheim

Spirale - Schlange im Rechteck

Sale Date: May 18, 2001

Auction Closed

Frau mit Locken, ihre Halskette haltend, 1958–1958

Meret Oppenheim

Frau mit Locken, ihre Halskette haltend, 1958–1958

Sale Date: May 16, 2001

Auction Closed

Wolken, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Wolken, 1971–1971

Sale Date: November 2, 2000

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Untitled, 1976–1976

Sale Date: October 31, 2000

Auction Closed

The mirror of Genoveva (from The S.M.S...., 1968

Meret Oppenheim

The mirror of Genoveva (from The S.M.S...., 1968

Sale Date: October 1, 2000

Auction Closed

Der verliebte Polyphem, 1974–1974

Meret Oppenheim

Der verliebte Polyphem, 1974–1974

Sale Date: June 22, 2000

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel (Spirale - Schlange im..., 1973–1973

Meret Oppenheim

Ohne Titel (Spirale - Schlange im..., 1973–1973

Sale Date: June 6, 2000

Auction Closed

Das Ohr von Giacometti, 1977–1977

Meret Oppenheim

Das Ohr von Giacometti, 1977–1977

Sale Date: May 24, 2000

Auction Closed

Spirale, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Spirale, 1971–1971

Sale Date: May 11, 2000

Auction Closed

Wolken (II), 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Wolken (II), 1971–1971

Sale Date: May 11, 2000

Auction Closed

Tisch mit Vogelfüssen, 1939–1939

After Meret Oppenheim

Tisch mit Vogelfüssen, 1939–1939

Sale Date: March 25, 2000

Auction Closed

Der Esel von Timbuktu, 1985–1985

Meret Oppenheim

Der Esel von Timbuktu, 1985–1985

Sale Date: March 21, 2000

Auction Closed

Pelztasse, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Pelztasse, 1971–1971

Sale Date: March 21, 2000

Auction Closed

Das Schulheft

Meret Oppenheim

Das Schulheft

Sale Date: March 21, 2000

Auction Closed

Kasten mit Tierchen, 1963–1963

Meret Oppenheim

Kasten mit Tierchen, 1963–1963

Sale Date: March 21, 2000

Auction Closed

A délacer, 1955–1955

Meret Oppenheim

A délacer, 1955–1955

Sale Date: December 4, 1999

Auction Closed

Souvenir du déjeuner en fourrure, 1970–1970

Meret Oppenheim

Souvenir du déjeuner en fourrure, 1970–1970

Sale Date: September 19, 1999

Auction Closed

Parapapillonnerie, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Parapapillonnerie, 1976–1976

Sale Date: May 31, 1999

Auction Closed

Steine-schwarze Tropfen, die zur weißen , 1974–1974

Meret Oppenheim

Steine-schwarze Tropfen, die zur weißen , 1974–1974

Sale Date: April 28, 1999

Auction Closed

English (US)

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