William Wegman

William Wegman and his iconic Weimaraner dog models have collaborated on an instantly recognizable oeuvre of idyllic photographs. Wegman was born in 1943 in Holyoke Massachusetts but currently resides and works in both New York and Maine. Initially, Wegman’s journey began in painting, but a shift to photography coincided with his moves to Long Beach and Santa Monica captured international attention. Alongside his first muse, the Weimaraner dog he named Man Ray after the photographer, Wegman began building his portfolio of humorous Polaroid portraits.

This collaboration was widely celebrated, and Wegman was being shown internationally by the 1970s. When Man Ray passed away, Village Voice named them the man of the year. Man Ray’s successor was Fay Ray, who would go on to have a litter of even more Weimaraner puppies who continue to be featured in Wegman’s art. Wegman has expanded beyond photography, producing books like the New York Times Bestseller Puppies and contributing art to Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live. Wegman’s photography starring his celebrity family of dogs can be seen in the permanent collections at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Centre Pompidou, and the Museum of Modern Art in both New York and San Francisco.