The Photographs of Ray K. Metzker

Ray K. Metzker (b. 1931) is one of the greatest living photographers of the modern era, although his name may not be as broadly familiar as that of some of his peers. Richly illustrated, The Photographs of Ray K. Metzker brings his extraordinary work to the attention of a larger audience, summarizing his life and achievements over the past six decades. With a fresh perspective, curator and author Keith F. Davis explores the roots of Metzker’s innovative vision, from his early interest in photojournalism through his studies with Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind at Chicago’s Institute of Design in the late 1950s, and his bold innovations of the 1960s and 1970s. Metzker’s work is richly diverse, embracing landscape, city scenes, and the expressive potential of the multiple image. These many themes are united by Metzker’s technical precision and daring, and his graphic use of sunlight and shadow. He has repeatedly reinvented his approach to the medium, and this book testifies to the remarkable range and originality of his work.

Keith F. Davis is the senior curator of photography at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.