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.
Cheetah, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A cheetah walks along the edge of a sloping green geometric plane. A yellow-green background frames the figure, drawing attention to its spotted coat. At the si...
Mixed Media
The Pink Party - Cute Feminine Still Life Collage Mixed Media Artwork on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Twin Trees at Sunrise - Architectural Colorful Still Life Mixed Media Collage
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Skyscrapers - Architectural Colorful Still Life Mixed Media Collage on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Howdy! (Roses) - Original Blue Floral Arrangement in Boot Still Life Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
$1,100
"Extensive Park in Springtime", Surrealist Landscape, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker's "Extensive Park in Springtime" is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 20 x 16 inches in saturated light and mid-range greens and tans with pale pink accents. The ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$1,950
My Artificial Gaze -21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Nature Woman
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
A portrait can tell a story, my artistic pieces highlight the exploration of the complexity of human identity, space and existence. My imagery embodies the unconventional expression ...
Glitter, Acrylic
$168Sale Price|20% Off
Madonna 1997. Paper, mixed media, 20x12 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Madonna 1997. Paper, mixed media, 20x12 cm "Madonna" is a symbolic and emotionally charged artwork, celebrating the iconic religious figure of the Virgin Mary and the spiritual sig...
Paper, Mixed Media
$1,950
My Imperfection Gaze - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Woman
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
A portrait can tell a story, my artistic pieces highlight the exploration of the complexity of human identity, space and existence. My imagery embodies the unconventional expression ...
Glitter, Acrylic
Sea Otter, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A small otter floats on a pink geometric plane. Below, intersecting blue planes form a sharp angle and give an illusion of depth. In creating this piece, artist...
Mixed Media
"Upstate", Surrealist Landscape, Farm, Red, Green, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker's "Upstate" is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 20 x 16 inches in greens, reds and tans. The organization of space and surface brings order to farm and town, whi...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$5,251
Enrico Baj ( 1924 – 2003 ) –Mixed media with passamentrie and collage on brocade
By Enrico Baj
Located in Varese, IT
Mixed media with passamentrie and collage on brocade with originals medals and pins, edited in 1971 Limited edition of 300 copies, numbered as 254/300 in lower left corner. Hand si...
Textile, Mixed Media
The Hills - Original Abstract Colorful Urban Still Life Collage Artwork Framed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Sailing Through The Day - Abstract Colorful Urban Collage Mixed Media Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C Bernhardsson's original artworks are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Born in Sweden, Bernhardsson travels the world photographing and sketching houses ...
Paper, Mixed Media
Enrico Baj (1924–2003) – Color mixed-media with collage on paper – 1975
By Enrico Baj
Located in Varese, IT
Color mixed-media with collage on paper from 'Le dame di Casa Baj' series, edited in 1975. Limited edition of 250, numbered as 107/250 in lower left corner. Hand-signed in pencil by ...
Paper
$565
Melrose Green House - Abstract Architectural Watercolor Painting on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
$800Sale Price|20% Off
"Picador" 1966 Experimental Surrealist Composition
Located in Soquel, CA
"Picador" 1966 Experimental Surrealist Composition Intriguing mixed-media piece by prominent California artist Morris Broderson (b. 1928 d. 2011.) A picador sits upon his horse, hol...
Paper, Watercolor, Graphite, Pinhole, Color Pencil
"The Post-Truth Era V", Surrealist Portrait, Brown, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “The Post-Truth Era V “ is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 20 x 16 inches in blues, whites, tans and browns. In our post-truth era it is next to impossible to...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Salvador Dali - La Musica Lt Ed plate in white porcelain with 24-carat gold edge
Located in New York, NY
One of seven allegorical plates on the arts. Made by the company Porcelanas Bidasoa (Spain) in 1980 in fine white porcelain, with 24-carat gold edge. Limited edition of 5,000 example...
Gold
Fox, Leaf, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A fox sits atop a bright red geometric plane. Below, a leaf-like pattern fills a blue triangle. Together, the shapes suggest a towering peak. Artist Heejin Sutt...
Mixed Media
Koala, Coral Reef, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A koala peeks out from a turquoise arch against a soft orange background. Across the composition, a coral reef sits within a smaller pink arch. Artist Heejin Su...
Mixed Media
$3,792
Salvador Dalí – La Tête ( The Head ) – hand watercolored drypoint etching – 1969
Located in Varese, IT
hand watercolored drypoint etching on extremely fine Japanese paper, edited in 1969 limited edition of 145 copies water-colored , numbered in lower left corner ea ( artist proof ) signed in pencil by artist in lower right corner paper size: 38.5 x 28.5 cm framed size: 65 x 55 cm very good conditions Bibliography: Salvador Dalí Catalogue Raisoneé of etchings and mixed media prints Ref 369 pag 178 Fast and Tracked shipping with express currier DHL . We offer professional packaging and tracked shipping with DHL Express courier ( shipping time: 24 hours for European countries and 4 to 6 days for America and other non-eu countries...
Paper, Watercolor, Drypoint, Etching
Valentines Night - Original Romantic Playful Still Life Collage Artwork on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
$3,000
Contact
By Airom
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Painting depicts contact, ambiguous as to whether it could be adverse contact or intimate contact between the focal characters.
India Ink, Oil
"Sea Horse (Hippocampus)"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Sea Horse (Hippocampus) is a fine-art silk print by Natalia Kolpakova, depicting a monumental seahorse-shell transformed into an inhabited Trojan vessel. Combining surrealist archite...
Silk
Floral Still Life Postage Stamp Surrealist Collage painting
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Mabel Barnsbee (1892-1980). Miniature Watercolor Painting Surrealist Postage Stamp Collage. Image measures 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Measuring 11 x 13 inches in original frame. The Mysti...
Paper, Watercolor
One eyed man - Collage, Synthetic Fur, Black
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
One eyed man, 2014 Textile collage on paper 6 4/5 × 4 7/10 in 17.2 × 12 cm Raluca Arnăutu creates a zoomorphic world, where animals from different worlds are mixed, resized, reconst...
Textile, Paper
$1,725
A Nearly Forgotten Song - Abstract Colorful Figurative Mixed Media Art on Wood
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 ...
Paper, Charcoal, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Seaside - Abstract Cool Tone Landscape Collage Mixed Media Artwork on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Melrose Animal House - Abstract Architectural Monochromatic Watercolor Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Boston - Abstract Color Drenched Urban Cityscape Watercolor Painting on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
"House of Cards"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
House of Cards is a narrative silk print by Natalia Kolpakova, depicting an impossible card-built architecture containing a central pool where a relaxed figure drifts in orbit of kin...
Silk
"Heavyweight Executives", Surrealist Portrait, Acrylic, Mixed Media Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “Heavyweight Executives” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 24 x 30 inches in dark greens, deep silver greys, and flesh tones. The two executives have put on ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Sunrise - Original Cool Tone Abstract Urban Still Life Collage Artwork on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
$500
Collage Watercolor Painting David Gilhooly California Funk Surrealism MixedMedia
Located in Surfside, FL
DAVID JAMES GILHOOLY (American, 1943-2013), Mixed media collage 6 x 4 inches, Hand signed and dated verso Napoleon from the back, with King Henry VIII holding a pastry. titled: "...
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
$175,000
Bonjour Sur Paris, 1952 - Mixed Media Hand-Signed & Annotated by Marc Chagall
By Marc Chagall
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Media work on Paper, hand colored by the artist on a lithographic touch plate. Signed and annotated “bon à tirer” impression on Arches paper, heavily annotated by Chagall. Pap...
Lithograph
$1,475
"The Post-Truth Era VI", Surrealist Portrait, Brown, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “The Post-Truth Era VI” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 17 7/8 x 13 7/8 inches in pinks, yellows and greens. In the Post-Truth Era facial expressions have ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
"Maternal Love", Surrealist Portrait, Pink, Blue, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “Maternal Love” is a 18 x 13 ¾ x 2 ¼ inch acrylic on canvas with collage in pinks, greens and blues. The nurturing mother gently kisses her near adolescent daughter; inn...
Canvas, Acrylic
$635
All We Need Is Flowers - Still Life Flowers in Vase Colorful Contemporary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Collage Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media collage on paper by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame. Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for art...
Found Objects, Paper, Mixed Media
"Spike Milligan (If)"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
"Spike Milligan(If) is a riotous homage to absurdity, theatricality, and the razor wit of British humor. This surreal silk composition draws inspiration from Milligan’s nonsensical p...
Silk
Surrealist drawing by California artist Daniel 'Zev' Harris
By Zev Daniel Harris
Located in Colfax, CA
Surrealist composition by Daniel 'Zev' Harris. Zev, meaning 'wolf' in Hungarian, was the name the artist chose for himself in 1953. He was born Daniel Harris. He studied at the Mas...
Paper, Mixed Media
Queen of the Sea, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A stone structure rises from a dreamy landscape. The blue and gold tones create a surreal and sacred atmosphere. Artist Yamilet Sempe drew inspiration from the ...
Mixed Media
"Full head"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
"Full head: As in the bosom o’ the stream"" is a monumental silk scarf artwork (135x135cm) exploring the intersection of poetic nostalgia and modern myth. This immersive piece draws ...
Silk
$1,600
"Eating and Drinking II", Surrealist, Green, Yellow, Collage, Acrylic painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “Eating and Drinking II” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 24 x 30 inches in yellows, reds and greens on a neutral background. In one sense an illustration o...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Mod Surrealist 1970's Drawing Watercolor Painting Jungle Fantasy, Unicorn, Lion
Located in Surfside, FL
Jungle fantasy Scene, Ink, Colored ink and color watercolor surreal fantasy scene, birds, giraffes, alligators, snakes, turtles, storks, unicorn and maiden in a tepee, lions and elephants. Laurence L. Donovan Jr. (1927-2001) was a poet, artist, and English professor at the University of Miami, best known for his poetry, much of which was inspired by Florida’s natural beauty. Donovan grew up in southern Florida. His parents were Ruth and Laurence Donovan...
Ink, Watercolor
$18,000
Mirage (ex Reader's Digest Art Collection) Op Art Surreal renowned female artist
Located in New York, NY
Edna Andrade Mirage (de-accessioned from the Reader's Digest Art Collection), 1988 Original Collage painting on board Signed, titled & dated on the front; the back bears labels from Marian Locks Gallery & Readers Digest Association with inventory (RDA) number Original frame included with collection and gallery labels verso This is a unique work Exquisite 1980s collage on board painting (framed) titled "Mirage" by renowned female Op artist Edna Andrade...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Board
$3,100
The Virgen & Child, Oil, Mixed Media, Hyperrealism, Modern Cuban Art, Surreal
Located in Houston, TX
LOOK FOR FREE SHIPPING AT CHECKOUT. The Virgin and Child - La Virgen y Nino was recently painted by the Cuban artist Brian Sanchez in 2023. It is oil and mi...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
"Studio Sketch of Valerie", Surrealist, Brown, Pink, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “Studio Sketch of Valerie” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 18 x 14 inches in pinks, greys and browns. When Valerie visited my studio she at first stayed ve...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,400
"Pickpocket at the Inauguration", Surrealist Portrait, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker's "Pickpocket at the Inauguration" is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 40 x 50 inches in reds, yellows, blues and whites. Amid the colorful riot, the manic pagea...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Automation of an Angel II Hyperrealism Mixed Media Surreal Modern Cuban Art
Located in Houston, TX
LOOK FOR FREE SHIPPING AT CHECKOUT. Automation of an Angel II 28" x 24" x 1" mixed media Cuba Automation of an Angel II was recently painted by the Cuban artist Brian Sanchez in 2...
Gold Leaf
$500
Collage Watercolor Painting David Gilhooly California Funk Surrealism MixedMedia
Located in Surfside, FL
DAVID JAMES GILHOOLY (American, 1943-2013), Mixed media collage 6 x 4 inches, Hand signed and dated verso Napoleon from the back, holding a heart. cut and pasted cardstock assemb...
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Surreal Mother and Child Painting With Dog Umbilical Cord Folk Narrative
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Surreal mother and child painting featuring a dog, an umbilical cord and a dreamlike narrative filled with humor and ambiguity. Route 66 belongs to Inés Silvalde’s Influencers de Ta...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$500
Collage, Assemblage Cardstock Painting David Gilhooly California Funk Surrealism
Located in Surfside, FL
DAVID JAMES GILHOOLY (American, 1943-2013), Mixed media collage 6 x 4 inches, Hand signed and dated verso titled: "a marriage made in heaven, potatoes and gravy" A handshake, a si...
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Surrealist Photo Collage Assemblage Art Butterfly Mouth Ivan Chermayeff
Located in Surfside, FL
Ivan Chermayeff (1932-2017): Butterfly Mouth Mixed media collage, 2002, hand signed 'Ivan Chermayeff' and dated lower right, titled lower left. Bears label from David Findlay Jr. Ga...
Paper, Mixed Media
Cuando la Luna Llora
By Tomo Mori
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This is about the beauty of feeling freely what you need to feel. It's okay to cry, process, and let go. I had this vision during my stay in the Caribbean, where I felt very open. This painting is on a gallery wrapped canvas with finished bla...
Mixed Media
Une Pyramide en Colère, Micro-Painting on Leather by Max Ernst
By Max Ernst
Located in Roma, IT
Micro picture, gouache on paper mounted on black leather. Belonging to the serie “Microbes”. Interestingly, it is unusually mounted on a black leather surface whose shape reminds th...
Leather, Gouache, Cardboard
"Target Practice", Surrealist Portrait, Brown, Mixed Media, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “Target Practice” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 32 x 26 inches in rich browns and blacks complementing the buff color of the collaged paper. The merciles...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
"Eating and Drinking I", Surrealist, Green, Yellow, Collage, Acrylic Painting
By John Baker
Located in Franklin, MA
John Baker’s “Eating and Drinking I” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 24 x 30 inches in reds, greens and yellows against a neutral background. What at first glance appea...
Canvas, Acrylic, Mixed Media
$3,000
'Sunset on Grand Canyon, ' by Dragana Milovic, Acrylic on Canvas Painting
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 24" x 30" acrylic on canvas painting, 'Sunset on Grand Canyon,' by Dragana Milovic is a fantastical abstracted landscape inspired by the Grand Can...
Gold Leaf