Ralph Eugene Meatyard (American, 1925–1972) was a largely self-taught photographer and a pioneering artist known for creating some of the most original images of the mid-twentieth century. His work defies easy categorization, as he experimented across various genres and subjects while maintaining the ethos of an amateur throughout his career—approaching photography with affection, discovery, and surprise. Meatyard is best recognized for his staged scenes that evoke an absurd fantasy, often set in the dilapidated houses and mundane suburban environs of his home in Lexington, Kentucky. These scenes frequently feature his family as actors and incorporate props such as masks and dolls, reflecting his quest for inner truths amid the ordinary.
This exhibition at The High Museum in Atlanta, coinciding with the artist’s centenary, will highlight the thirty-six prints that make up his first monograph (Gnomon Press, 1970)—one of only two books published during his lifetime, which he intended to serve as his definitive artistic statement. Through an idiosyncratic selection of images, the exhibition will delve into how Meatyard’s unique approach and insatiable curiosity expanded the expressive and conceptual potential of photography.
