Man Ray photos going on display at National Portrait Gallery

A collection of more than 150 photographs by American artist Man Ray are going on show in a new exhibition.

The pictures, many of which have never been shown in the UK before, are on loan to the National Portrait Gallery from private collectors and museums around the world.

Ray, who died in 1976, lived and worked in France and the United States during his career.

Although he regarded himself as a painter, he is better known for his avant-garde photography and during his lifetime was best known for his fashion and portrait photography.

The show at the central London gallery will include portraits of novelist James Joyce, painters Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, and Wallis Simpson.

The exhibition will run from 7 February to 27 May and then go on tour to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow.

PA