Fred Torres Collaborations is pleased to announce the exhibition The Lonely Doll, photographs by Dare Wright, on view from March 29 through April 28, 2012. This is the first exhibition of Dare Wright’s photographs. On the occasion of this exhibition, Fred Torres Collaborations also announces that it now represents the Estate of Dare Wright. Fred Torres Collaborations is located at 527 West 29th Street, New York. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, March 29, from 6 to 8 PM.
The exhibition features a selection of over 30 photographs taken by Wright in 1956 for the celebrated children’s book The Lonely Doll, which was published in 1957. The works on view are printed full frame as they were originally photographed by Wright, before being cropped for the book. This new presentation reveals Wright’s artistic vision and world – her New York apartment and the props she sometimes used. The Lonely Doll is the first in a series of books about the adventures of a doll named Edith, who “lived in a nice house and had everything she needed except someone to play with.” Mr. Bear and Little Bear soon arrived to answer her prayers and end her loneliness. Wright photographed her childhood Lenci doll, styled to look much like herself with blond hair pulled back into a pony tail, and two stuffed bears (Shucco and Steiff) purchased in 1956. For a generation the haunting photographs and psychological narrative resonated through the way they captured the hopes and fears of childhood. At the time of its publication the book was notably lauded for its innovative use of photography to illustrate the story and was on the New York Times’ Best Seller list. In 2010, The Lonely Doll was named one of “The 10 best illustrated children’s books” by The Observer in the U.K. Many contemporary artists have discussed their interest in The Lonely Doll, including Cindy Sherman, Laurie Simmons, and David LaChapelle.

Dare Wright was a photographer, author, and model born in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada in 1914. She spent most of her childhood in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was raised by her mother, the portrait artist Edith Stevenson Wright. Dare moved to New York City in her twenties, and lived there until her death in 2001. Well known as a children’s book author, Wright wrote twenty-one books, nineteen of which were published in her lifetime. All of her books feature her black and white photographs.

For more information or images, please contact Yana Balson by email at director@fredtorres.com or by phone at 212.244.5074.