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)
Ici habite la sorrier, 1969–1969

Meret Oppenheim

Ici habite la sorrier, 1969–1969

Sale Date: April 20, 1999

Auction Closed

Strand, drei Hütten und Felsen, 1951–1951

Meret Oppenheim

Strand, drei Hütten und Felsen, 1951–1951

Sale Date: March 23, 1999

Auction Closed

Souvenir du déjeuner en fourrure, 1973–1973

Meret Oppenheim

Souvenir du déjeuner en fourrure, 1973–1973

Sale Date: March 23, 1999

Auction Closed

Giacometti's ear

Meret Oppenheim

Giacometti's ear

Sale Date: March 10, 1999

Auction Closed

Komposition, 1974–1974

Meret Oppenheim

Komposition, 1974–1974

Sale Date: December 1, 1998

Auction Closed

Das Frühstück im Pelz, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Das Frühstück im Pelz, 1971–1971

Sale Date: December 1, 1998

Auction Closed

Gesicht-Affe-Gespenst-verschleierte..., 1970–1970

Meret Oppenheim

Gesicht-Affe-Gespenst-verschleierte..., 1970–1970

Sale Date: October 23, 1998

Auction Closed

Die Haare der Japanerin

Meret Oppenheim

Die Haare der Japanerin

Sale Date: October 22, 1998

Auction Closed

Parapapillonneries, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Parapapillonneries, 1976–1976

Sale Date: October 17, 1998

Auction Closed

Ich bin ein Wickelkind, gewickelt mit..., 1985–1985

Meret Oppenheim

Ich bin ein Wickelkind, gewickelt mit..., 1985–1985

Sale Date: October 17, 1998

Auction Closed

Ici habite la sorrier, 1969–1969

Meret Oppenheim

Ici habite la sorrier, 1969–1969

Sale Date: May 28, 1998

Auction Closed

Caroline. Gedichte und Radierungen

Meret Oppenheim

Caroline. Gedichte und Radierungen

Sale Date: May 26, 1998

Auction Closed

Katze und Vogelkralle, 1970–1970

Meret Oppenheim

Katze und Vogelkralle, 1970–1970

Sale Date: May 23, 1998

Auction Closed

Nachthimmel mit Achaten, 1971–1971

Meret Oppenheim

Nachthimmel mit Achaten, 1971–1971

Sale Date: May 14, 1998

Auction Closed

Mann, nach links gehend, 1978–1978

Meret Oppenheim

Mann, nach links gehend, 1978–1978

Sale Date: May 7, 1998

Auction Closed

Komet

Meret Oppenheim

Komet

Sale Date: May 7, 1998

Auction Closed

Spirale - Schlange im Rechteck, 1973–1973

Meret Oppenheim

Spirale - Schlange im Rechteck, 1973–1973

Sale Date: December 1, 1997

Auction Closed

Personnages, 1951–1951

Meret Oppenheim

Personnages, 1951–1951

Sale Date: November 22, 1997

Auction Closed

Gesicht mit Flügeln

Meret Oppenheim

Gesicht mit Flügeln

Sale Date: October 24, 1997

Auction Closed

Komposition mit Blumentapete und

Meret Oppenheim

Komposition mit Blumentapete und "B"..., 1970–1970

Sale Date: October 24, 1997

Auction Closed

Ich bin ein Wickelkind, gewickelt mit..., 1985–1985

Meret Oppenheim

Ich bin ein Wickelkind, gewickelt mit..., 1985–1985

Sale Date: October 18, 1997

Auction Closed

Parapapillonneries, 1976–1976

Meret Oppenheim

Parapapillonneries, 1976–1976

Sale Date: October 11, 1997

Auction Closed

Portrait, 1960

Meret Oppenheim

Portrait, 1960

Sale Date: June 12, 1997

Auction Closed

Baumstamm, 1969

Meret Oppenheim

Baumstamm, 1969

Sale Date: June 12, 1997

Auction Closed

English (US)

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