William Wegman Sold at Auction Prices

Photographer, Sculptor, Painter, b. 1943 -

(b Holyoke, Massachusetts 1943) American Photographer. William Wegman began his career studying painting at the Massachusetts College of Art and the University of Illinois. He went on to spend two years teaching at the University of Wisconsin. In 1970 Wegman moved to Long Beach, California to take up a post at California State College. It was in Long Beach that Wegman acquired a weimaraner, named Man Ray, who was to become Wegman’s muse. Wegman photographed and videotaped the dog dressed in elaborate costumes and placed in elaborate sets. Man Ray died in 1981 but four years later Wegman acquired another weimaraner, whom he named Fay Ray. With Fay Ray and her descendents, Wegman continued to create photos and videos of the dogs posed ironically in Wegman’s unlikely costumes and settings. His videos gained exposure on the popular children’s program, Sesame Street. Wegman continues to create and exhibit paintings, photographs and video installations.