Find Your Muse: Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Ralph Eugene Meatyard was born in 1925 and began his career in Lexington Kentucky as an optician.  The company Meatyard worked for also sold photographic equipment at the time, and its members were also active in the Lexington Camera Club in the art department of the University of Kentucky.  This prompted him to become initially interested in photography and led to his eventual purchase of his first camera in 1950 in order to photograph his son.  After experimenting with it, he soon joined the Lexington Camera Club and then later became a member of the Photographic Society of America.

During his membership he met Van Deren Coke, who would influence Meatyards work greatly.  He also attended several workshops during the mid 50's run by Minor White and Henry Holmes Smith.  This led to extremely experimental works he would create in his darkroom at his home.  He died in 1972.

His work was shown in numerous galleries and publications and was regarded as some of the most original and disturbing work to be made with a camera at the time.

Meatyard's work consists of various juxtapositions of old and young bodies as well as grim/gloomy representations of the south and midwest.  His images portray eerie yet beautiful narratives regarding human interaction through time as well as identity as it relates to physical form.