Meret Oppenheim

Meret Oppenheim (1913-1985) is associated with 20th-century art movements and is celebrated for her unique vision. She studied art in Paris, befriending Surrealists such as Man Ray and André Breton. She gained fame in 1936 with her fur-lined teacup, *Object (Le déjeuner en fourrure)*, now an art icon. After many years of personal struggles, she reemerged in the mid-1950s, promoting individuality and femininity. Oppenheim's work, including sculptures, paintings, and mixed-media pieces, challenged gender norms. In a 1975 speech for the City of Basel Art Prize, she highlighted female artists' freedom and the androgyny of the mind, stating, "Freedom is not given to you; you have to seize it."