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Surrealist Art

8,880 Results
SURREALIST STYLE

In the wake of World War I’s ravaging of Europe, artists delved into the unconscious mind to confront and grapple with this reality. Poet and critic André Breton, a leader of the Surrealist movement who authored the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, called this approach “a violent reaction against the impoverishment and sterility of thought processes that resulted from centuries of rationalism.” Surrealist art emerged in the 1920s with dreamlike and uncanny imagery guided by a variety of techniques such as automatic drawing, which can be likened to a stream of consciousness, to channel psychological experiences.

Although Surrealism was a groundbreaking approach for European art, its practitioners were inspired by Indigenous art and ancient mysticism for reenvisioning how sculptures, paintings, prints, performance art and more could respond to the unsettled world around them.

Surrealist artists were also informed by the Dada movement, which originated in 1916 Zurich and embraced absurdity over the logic that had propelled modernity into violence. Some of the Surrealists had witnessed this firsthand, such as Max Ernst, who served in the trenches during World War I, and Salvador Dalí, whose otherworldly paintings and other work responded to the dawning civil war in Spain.

Other key artists associated with the revolutionary art and literary movement included Man Ray, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim, all of whom had a distinct perspective on reimagining reality and freeing the unconscious mind from the conventions and restrictions of rational thought. Pablo Picasso showed some of his works in “La Peinture Surréaliste” — the first collective exhibition of Surrealist painting — which opened at Paris’s Galerie Pierre in November of 1925. (Although Magritte is best known as one of the visual Surrealist movement’s most talented practitioners, his famous 1943 painting, The Fifth Season, can be interpreted as a formal break from Surrealism.)

The outbreak of World War II led many in the movement to flee Europe for the Americas, further spreading Surrealism abroad. Generations of modern and contemporary artists were subsequently influenced by the richly symbolic and unearthly imagery of Surrealism, from Joseph Cornell to Arshile Gorky.

Find a collection of original Surrealist paintings, sculptures, prints and multiples and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Surrealist
I'm okay
I'm okay

I'm okay

Located in Zofingen, AG

Sometimes, fear and a sense of security, tension and calm, the desire to hide and the desire to stay in the open all exist within me at the same time. They aren’t necessarily contrad...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Early Dawn Mosaic on MDF Panel, Signed, 2023, 39.5 x 58.5 in
Early Dawn Mosaic on MDF Panel, Signed, 2023, 39.5 x 58.5 in

Early Dawn Mosaic on MDF Panel, Signed, 2023, 39.5 x 58.5 in

By Scott Kahn

Located in Rochester Hills, MI

Artist: Scott Kahn Title: Early Dawn Year 2023 Size: 39 3/8 x 53 1/8 inches (100 x 134.9 cm) Mosaic on MDF panel Signed in the front and Signed on the back. About the Artist Scott ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Mosaic

original lithograph

original lithograph

By Jorge Castillo

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original lithograph. Printed in 1979 and published in Barcelona by La Poligrafa in an edition of 1000. Size: 10 x 7 1/2 inches (255 x 188 mm). Not signed.

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Salvador Dalì Surrealist Modern Signed Work on Paper
Salvador Dalì Surrealist Modern Signed Work on Paper

Salvador Dalì Surrealist Modern Signed Work on Paper

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Roma, IT

This important artwork is an original color lithograph by Salvador Dalí titled "Don José" from his famous Carmensuite. Created in 1968, this specific impression is a rare "Artist's proof" designated by the pencil inscription "artist proof" in the lower-left margin. This artwork, never before on the market, comes from an important Italian private collection. Our company has been present on this platform for many years, with more than 100 sales made and just as many excellent reviews received that you can under our Furniture account. The artwork is also protected by glass This artwork, upon request, is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by an official Expert in Italian furniture for the Chamber of Commerce of Rome and for the Rome Civil Courts. The composition It is characterised by a highly dynamic and contrasting color scheme relies on saturated, expressive reds in the lower-left corner balanced by deep, brooding blues and earthy ochres/sanguine tones making up the central figure. The background features muted, atmospheric gray and green washes to simulate a turbulent, twilight sky. The composition uses an asymmetrical, vertical orientation dominated by a colossal, central figure towering over a fragmented architectural landscape. The perspective is intentionally distorted to emphasize a dreamlike, theatrical space. In this wonderful artwork are presents many surrealist iconography elements. On the the central figure is represented Don José; the character's form is severely elongated and spindly, bearing hallmarks of Dalí’s fascination with gaunt, skeletal figures. The anatomy transitions from fluid gestural lines to an almost root-like structure near the base. Atop the figure's head sits a prominent, black geometric cage resembling a street lantern or polyhedral framework. This structure acts as a visual anchor and source of dramatic light rays radiating downwards. To the right, a detailed architectural elements, surrealist cathedral/church façade rises with a crucifix, complete with an intricate, wheel-like window resembling an anatomical eye...

Category

1980s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

René Magritte - LE CHEF D'OEUVRE OU... Limited Surrealism French Contemporary
René Magritte - LE CHEF D'OEUVRE OU... Limited Surrealism French Contemporary

René Magritte - LE CHEF D'OEUVRE OU... Limited Surrealism French Contemporary

By (after) René Magritte

Located in Madrid, Madrid

René Magritte - LE CHEF D'OEUVRE OU LES MYSTÈRES DE L'HORIZON, 1965 Date of creation: 2010 Medium: Lithograph on BFK Rives Paper Edition number: 131/275 Size: 60 x 45 cm Condition: N...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Flower Pot 9 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Still Life, Nature, Floral

Flower Pot 9 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Still Life, Nature, Floral

By Akanji Bolaji

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Aka...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Harvest is Ready - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Nature, Child

Harvest is Ready - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Nature, Child

By Akanji Bolaji

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Akanji Bolaji (b...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Time Stillness of Time
Time Stillness of Time

Time Stillness of Time

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Hollywood, FL

ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: Time Stillness of Time MEDIUM: Lithograph SIGNED: Hand Signed by Salvador Dali PUBLISHER: Levine & Levine, New York EDITION NUMBER: EA MEASUREMENTS...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

An Undying Wonderment - Original Figurative Mixed Media Surrealist Inspired Art
An Undying Wonderment - Original Figurative Mixed Media Surrealist Inspired Art

An Undying Wonderment - Original Figurative Mixed Media Surrealist Inspired Art

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Robert Lebsack creates artworks using mixed media with ink, acrylic, and charcoal on archival copies of newspapers, textbooks, and sheet music. As a visionary artist, Lebsack weaves ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Star-Crossed, Oil Painting
Star-Crossed, Oil Painting

Star-Crossed, Oil Painting

By Keith Thomson

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Two astronauts sit across from each other, the table between them barely separating their bodies as they lean in close. It was a first date, and they had a wond...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

Espana, Surrealist figure - Original lithograph, 1982
Espana, Surrealist figure - Original lithograph, 1982

Espana, Surrealist figure - Original lithograph, 1982

By Joan Miró

Located in Paris, IDF

Joan MIRO Espana, Surrealist figure, 1982 Original lithograph in colors (atelier Arte, Maeght) Printed signature in the plate On thin paper 95 x 60 cm (c. 37.4 x 23.6 in) Referenc...

Category

1980s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Waiting Portrait Surrealism Original oil Painting
Waiting Portrait Surrealism Original oil Painting

Waiting Portrait Surrealism Original oil Painting

By Ashot Yan

Located in Granada Hills, CA

Figurative Surrealism Original Painting Artist: Ashot Yan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Portrait Surrealism, T...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Woman, Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting
Portrait of Woman, Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting

Portrait of Woman, Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting

By Ashot Yan

Located in Granada Hills, CA

Figurative Surrealism Original Painting Artist: Ashot Yan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Surrealism, Title: Sti...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lunar Eclipse (Blue Sky), 2023 Mosaic on MDF panel
Lunar Eclipse (Blue Sky), 2023 Mosaic on MDF panel

Lunar Eclipse (Blue Sky), 2023 Mosaic on MDF panel

By Scott Kahn

Located in Rochester Hills, MI

Artist: Scott Kahn Title: Blue Sky Lunar Eclipse Year 2023 Size: 39.5 x 39.5 inches Mosaic on MDF panel Signed in the front and Signed on the back. About the Artist Scott Kahn (b. ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Mosaic

Mr and Mrs Woodman : The Horsewoman - Original signed silver print
Mr and Mrs Woodman : The Horsewoman - Original signed silver print

Mr and Mrs Woodman : The Horsewoman - Original signed silver print

By Man Ray

Located in Paris, IDF

MAN RAY (Emmanuel Radnitsky, known as) (1890–1976) Mr. and Mrs. Woodman (The Horsewoman), 1970 Photograph: Original silver print Artist’s signature stamp on the reverse On silver pa...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

In Spite of it All (Window, Skyscape, Warm, Dreamy, ~29% OFF)
In Spite of it All (Window, Skyscape, Warm, Dreamy, ~29% OFF)

In Spite of it All (Window, Skyscape, Warm, Dreamy, ~29% OFF)

By Annieo Klaas

Located in Kansas City, MO

Annieo Klaas In Spite of it All 2024 Oil on Canvas 84 x 48 inches (213.36 x 121.92 cm) Signed lower right COA provided *On stretcher frame - gallery wrapped - ready to hang Annieo ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

Stallion and a Unicorn -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, African, Horse
Stallion and a Unicorn -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, African, Horse

Stallion and a Unicorn -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, African, Horse

By Akanji Bolaji

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

A Stallion and a Unicorn explores the duality of action and aspiration, grounding us in the tension between lived reality and imagined possibility. The stallion embodies patriotism r...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Walking Creature: Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract, 2005
Walking Creature: Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract, 2005

Walking Creature: Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract, 2005

By Michael William Eggleston

Located in Soquel, CA

Walking Creature, Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract by Michael William Eggleston Bold and imaginative contemporary figurative abstract by San Francisco artist Michael William...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Large, Unique Abstract Surrealist Oil Painting in the Chicago Imagist Tradition
Large, Unique Abstract Surrealist Oil Painting in the Chicago Imagist Tradition

Large, Unique Abstract Surrealist Oil Painting in the Chicago Imagist Tradition

Located in Chicago, IL

A Unique, Unusual and Striking Abstract Surrealist Painting Completed in the Chicago Imagist Tradition by Notable Artist, Stanley Dean Edwards (Am. Born 1941). Titled "The Last Living Face in Pompeii", the painting is oil and acrylic on canvas presented in its original frame. The artwork shows a unique synthesis of Post-War Surrealist influences, including the avant-garde Italian artist Enrico Baj and the vibrant palette of the Chicago Imagist school, namely Ed Paschke and his contemporaries. The collage-like references in the composition recall the artwork of sculptor H.C. Westermann and others experimenting with assemblage, found objects and the integration of inanimate objects. Artwork size: 38 1/2 x 32 inches; Framed size: 39 1/4 x 33 1/4 inches. Signed "Edwards", lower right; signed, titled and dated on reverse. Provenance: The Artist; Private Collection, Chicago, IL (circa 2010). Born 1941 in Joliet, Illinois, Stanley Dean Edwards moved to Chicago early in life to pursue his life as an artist. His mother was a Chicago public school teacher, and his father was a Methodist minister. He studied painting and design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), receiving a BFA in 1967. While at SAIC, Edwards was influenced by Vera Berdich's printmaking classes and Daniel Massen's design classes. After a brief stay in New York (1967-1970), where he was profoundly shaken by urban rioting and general upheaval of this time, Edwards returned to Chicago and later set up a studio in the Pilsen Neighborhood. Edwards is primarily a figurative painter whose work is informed by both Surrealism and Constructivism. Early hard-edge paintings from the mid-1960's feature a series of screaming babies set in brightly colored environments. These works offer religious suggestions, as the infants are paired with ecclesiastical figures presented atop an altar. Other protagonists of his series include dogs and faceless men. (1) In the early 1960's, Stan Edwards was part of a diverse group of artists that included George Kokines, Ray Siemanowski, Michael Hurson and Peter Holbrook among others. These artists and Edwards were part of that decade's vanguard and their work was included in an exhibition titled, "Twelve Chicago Artists" at the Walker Art Center. The curator was Jan Van der Marck. Edwards called his paintings of babies, dogs and erotic torsos from that period "image painting" because they were taken not from the model stand but cast off photo images. One painting from this period, Infant in Altar IV, is a 60" x 60" an oil and acrylic painting and was loaned by the National Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian to the Museum of Contemporary Art for its fifty year retrospective titled, "Art in Chicago, 1945 to 1995." The painting is part of the Martha Jackson memorial collection at the National Museum of American Art. (2.) Recent paintings, which Edwards calls "Icons for a New Era: Assembled Art Imagery," feature iconic images composed of items from popular culture; witty titles often allude to the materials from which they were made. The found objects, vibrant colors, and slick presentations of his works indicate their relationship to and a continuation of Pop art. Both humorous and sinister, Edwards' paintings reflect the psychological uneasiness associated with the close of the twentieth century. (3.) One painting of this series titled Surveyor is a 66" x 60" oil and acrylic painting and appears in the book Humor in Art by Nicholas Roukes, published by Davis Inc. The book is widely used as a text for art and design projects. (4.) In October of 2002 Edwards presented a retrospective exhibition of his work at the Illinois Institute of Art where he taught art and design in the foundation program. His lecture and exhibition were presented as part of "Chicago Artist's Month" sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs for the City of Chicago. In 2004 Edwards completed a major commission for the new Veterans' Administration building in Chicago. The commission centered on patriotic themes and one large 6 and 1/2' x 10' painting is dedicated to prisoners of war. Five others are 48" x 48" and depict the military branch seals, and four paintings 32" x 32" are based on 19th century patriotic engravings. Stan Edwards, who retired from the Illinois Institute of Art in 2009, lives and works in Chicago, Illinois. Sources: (2. & 4.) Press release (1. & 3.) "Art in Chicago 1945 1995, MCA.) COLLECTIONS: Selected corporate & institutional collections National Museum of American Art/Smithsonian Corcoran Gallery of Art Ceco Corporation Crain Communications Thrall Railcar Company American Hospital Association Plyzynski & Associates, Inc. NYC North American Jet Corporation Ball State University Illinois Institute of Art at Chicago State University of New York Harris Bank & Trust Dallas Theater Center Electronic Media Magazine Johnson Controls Central National Bank of Cleveland Associates Commercial Corporation Corporate Art Source Veterans' Administration Commission, Chicago, 2004 Ten site specific paintings Siemens Corporation COLLECTIONS: Selected private collections Walter & Dawn Clark Netsch Beatrice "Buddy" Mayer Douglas Ross Larry Aronson Marc & Ilana Platt Phil & Joan Krone Craig & Janet Duchossois Sally Fairweather Shirley Hardin Brian Boyer Pritzker collection James Speyer collection Michael Greany Ed & Lindy Bergman Collection Leigh Block Collection Professor Harold Platt Professors Lew Erenberg & Susan Hirsch Dr. David Gross Professor Mihaly Csiksentmihalyi Dr. Paula Young Dr. & Mrs. Imre Hidvegi EXHIBITIONS: Selected exhibitions Biennial Drawing Exhibition, Art Institute of Chicago, 1962 Momentum II, Lexington Hall, University of Chicago, 1964 The Sunken City Rises, Hermann Hall, Illinois Institute of Technology,1964 Eye on Chicago, Hermann Hall, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1964 29th Corcoran Biennial, 1965, Washington, D.C. Inaugural exhibition, Fairweather-Hardin, 1965 Society for Contemporary Art, Art Institute of Chicago, 1965 12 Chicago Painters...

Category

1990s Surrealist Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Oil

Moses and Monotheism
Moses and Monotheism

Moses and Monotheism

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled, "Moses and Monotheism" 1979, is a copper embossed bas relief by artist Salvador Dali, 1904-1989. It is hand signed in felt pen at the lower right corner. The art...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Copper

original etching

original etching

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original etching. Printed in Paris by Lacourière and published by Pierre à Feu and Maeght Editeur for the Marcel Duchamp / André Breton project Surréalisme en 1947. Issued in...

Category

1940s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Hands - Il tempo che passa - Etching by Mayo - 1977

Hands - Il tempo che passa - Etching by Mayo - 1977

Located in Roma, IT

Etching on paper. Hand Signed and numbered. Edition of 25, in roman numbers. Excellent condition.

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Surrealist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, and Leonor Fini. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Lithograph and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Surrealist art, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for art made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1 and tops out at $1,450,000, while the average work sells for $1,426.