Ralph Eugene Meatyard

(American, 1925–1972)

Ralph Eugene Meatyard was an American photographer known for his enigmatic portraits and use of multiple exposures. Though he did not gain much recognition during his lifetime, the artist’s haunting images of masked children have since established him as a key figure in American photography. Born on May 15, 1925 in Normal, IL, he joined the Navy during the end of World War II without seeing any combat. After returning from the war, Meatyard studied to become an optician and shortly thereafter accepted a job at an optical firm in Lexington, KY. He first came into contact with photography in 1950 through his job, which sold both optical and photo equipment. After purchasing his first camera, Meatyard joined the Lexington Camera club and learned many of the basics of the medium from another club member named Van Deren Coke. The artist continued his education in the mid-1950s, when he attended a summer photography course taught by Henry Holmes Smith and Minor White at Indiana University. In the years that followed, he began to incorporate his interest in Zen philosophy and jazz music into his practice. Meatyard was just beginning to gain recognition for his work before his death on May 7, 1972 in Lexington, KY. Today, his photographs are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, among others.
 

Ralph Eugene Meatyard Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Ralph Eugene Meatyard (321 results)
One of seven kids of Mertonian friend, 1970–1972

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

One of seven kids of Mertonian friend, 1970–1972

Sale Date: October 7, 2021

Auction Closed

Arched Door way with Woman and boy, 1960

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Arched Door way with Woman and boy, 1960

Sale Date: October 7, 2021

Auction Closed

Boy by window, 1960

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Boy by window, 1960

Sale Date: May 27, 2021

Auction Closed

Seated child, 1954

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Seated child, 1954

Sale Date: March 11, 2021

Auction Closed

Portfolio Three: The Work of Ralph..., 1959–1971

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Portfolio Three: The Work of Ralph..., 1959–1971

Sale Date: December 4, 2020

Auction Closed

Untitled (Boy behind post), c. 1960, 1960

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled (Boy behind post), c. 1960, 1960

Sale Date: October 14, 2020

Auction Closed

Untitled (Boy leaning against tree), 1963, 1963

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled (Boy leaning against tree), 1963, 1963

Sale Date: October 14, 2020

Auction Closed

Untitled (boy in sheet), 1966, 1966

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled (boy in sheet), 1966, 1966

Sale Date: October 14, 2020

Auction Closed

Untitled (boy holding shard of glass before..., 1966

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled (boy holding shard of glass before..., 1966

Sale Date: October 14, 2020

Auction Closed

MAN WITH HAT, 1950

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

MAN WITH HAT, 1950

Sale Date: July 14, 2020

Auction Closed

Plant with lights, 1955

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Plant with lights, 1955

Sale Date: June 11, 2020

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1963

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled, 1963

Sale Date: June 10, 2020

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1963

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled, 1963

Sale Date: December 18, 2019

Auction Closed

Michael and Candy’s son, 1970-1971., 1970–1971

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Michael and Candy’s son, 1970-1971., 1970–1971

Sale Date: November 7, 2019

Auction Closed

Arched door with woman and boy, (1960), 1960

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Arched door with woman and boy, (1960), 1960

Sale Date: October 26, 2019

Auction Closed

Branches, 1956

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Branches, 1956

Sale Date: October 17, 2019

Auction Closed

Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Center for..., 1959–1971

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Center for..., 1959–1971

Sale Date: October 17, 2019

Auction Closed

Untitled from the series Zen Twigs, 1960

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled from the series Zen Twigs, 1960

Sale Date: October 4, 2019

Auction Closed

Untitled (Skull and Umbrella), 1955

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled (Skull and Umbrella), 1955

Sale Date: October 4, 2019

Auction Closed

Untitled (Flag, derelict interior with..., 1960

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled (Flag, derelict interior with..., 1960

Sale Date: October 1, 2019

Auction Closed

Untitled. Scene in a dark interior.

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Untitled. Scene in a dark interior.

Sale Date: July 17, 2019

Auction Closed

Michael and Candy’s son, 1970-1971., 1970–1971

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Michael and Candy’s son, 1970-1971., 1970–1971

Sale Date: June 13, 2019

Auction Closed

The Old South #2, 1954–1955

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

The Old South #2, 1954–1955

Sale Date: June 8, 2019

Auction Closed

Lexington, Kentucky (Madelyn pregnant), 1955

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Lexington, Kentucky (Madelyn pregnant), 1955

Sale Date: April 5, 2019

Auction Closed

English (US)

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