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Surrealist Abstract Paintings

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
Surrealist Landscape of Appian Way, Una Via Romana Antica - Monochromatic
Located in Miami, FL
Surrealist Landscape the Appian Way - One of the earliest Roman Roads. Rich textual surface with impasto paint application. The artist depicts a wide angle and lower angle view and...
Category

1960s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

The Last Tree
Located in Palm Desert, CA
What would the last tree do? Would it come through a window, a door? There are several of the works that I have generated that express the deep concern I hold for our home planet. Th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Acrylic, Board

The Last Tree
$400 Sale Price
20% Off
The Masterpiece: Dharma
Located in Palm Desert, CA
The Sakyamuni (Historical) Buddha is credited with developing the teaching known as The Dharma. For me, that teaching is a masterpiece. Perfect understanding of the human condition a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Acrylic

In Hale Liberation. Ex Hale Limitation.
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Abstract. Philosophical. Colorful. This piece flew together. The brushstrokes nearly flew from my hand to the Board. The colors demanded to play. But a name just did not show up. I...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paste, Gesso, Acrylic, Board

Anoche
Located in New York, NY
Original piece by Moises Salazar Tlatenchi. Showing at The Queer Show Part II.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Yarn, Glitter, Oil

Surrealist Clothesline Composition
Located in Astoria, NY
Robert O'Meara (American, 1957-2024), Surrealist Clothesline, Oil on Canvas Board, signed lower right, unframed. 16" H x 16" W. Provenance: From a 333 East 75th Street Estate.
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Chalkboard Diaries, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Chalkboard Diaries, a mixed media painting filled with oils, pastel and chalkboard paint take a diaristic approach on domestic romance.. The flames ar...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

“Traveling Together” 2012 colorful Abstract oil on board Armenian Artist VATCHE
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
“Traveling Together” is a colorful, abstract, surrealist painting by Armenian artist, Vatche Geuvdjelian painted in 2012. Artist’s Statement “𝘛𝘩�...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Organic Mechanism (colorful large abstract oil painting) Armenian Artist 2014
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Artist’s Statement “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝟷) 𝘔𝘺 “𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩” 𝘪𝘯 ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

Origins 2015 Abstract Expressionist oil/canvas green blue Armenian Artist VATCHE
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Artist’s Statement “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝟷) 𝘔𝘺 “𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩” 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝟸) 𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝟹) 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵", 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.” 𝘝𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘶𝘷𝘥𝘫𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Provenance: The artist's private collection "Origins" 2015 A colorful, abstract, surrealist oil painting by an Armenian Artist...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Organic Mechanism 2014 colorful large abstract oil Surrealist oc Armenian Artist
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
"Organic Mechanism" Date: 2014-2015 Abstract oil painting on canvas (oc) Vatche is an Armenian artist living in Mexico. Artist’s Statement “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳�...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

Volcano Eruption - Explosive Fire Lava Flow from Hell
Located in Miami, FL
A Fiery Hell is depicted as a volcano that spews flames and lava dust into the air. According to the Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw Family Archive, this work was shown to Stanly Kubrick for a Paradise Lost, movie concept. Peter had created matte paintings for Kubrick's Spartacus in 1960 and they continued their professional friendship for years to come. Peter did some collaboration with TRON in 1982. Unfortunately, the movie concept for John Miltons, Paradise Lost, was not brought into production. An erupting volcano is also an powerful metaphor for many human conditions. Ellenshaw (1913–2007) was a highly regarded matte painter and special-effects creator whose filmography includes Old Yeller (1957), Swiss Family Robinson...
Category

1980s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Toy Room, Gabriela Lukschal
Located in Porto, 13
76 x 72 cm without the frame 93 x 97 cm with the frame Toy Room (2022) – Acrylic on Canvas Dimensions: 96.5 x 93 x 3 cm (38 x 36.6 x 1.2 in) Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Condition: Exc...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

New Canabis
Located in New York, NY
Isabel Peña New Canabis, 2015 Acrylic on canvas 70.80h x 35.40w in 179.83h x 89.92w cm
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

New Canabis
$2,362 Sale Price
36% Off
Surrealist Collection Number 5. Contemporary Abstract Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin has embarked on a journey through Surrealism. This collection writhes & flows from his "Billion Dollar Hand" creating a complexity of interwoven rhythms. Berlin has been e...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Passed life
Located in New York, NY
With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Passed life
Passed life
Price Upon Request
Starry, Starry, Starry
Located in New York, NY
Dionisios Fragias is a New York -based artist born on the Greek island of Kefalonia and raised in New York City. He is the protege of the artist Jeff Koons whose years-long mentorshi...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Figure in Gray, Abstract Oil Painting on Burlap by Benjamin Benno
Located in Long Island City, NY
Gray Area Benjamin Benno, American (1901–1980) Date: circa 1960 Oil on Burlap, signed Size: 18 x 15 in. (45.72 x 38.1 cm) Frame Size: 23.5 x 20 inches
Category

1960s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Burlap, Oil

"Season of the Brilliant Purple Sky, " Acrylic on Canvas - Abstract Surrealism
Located in Houston, TX
The burning of desire and the subsequent extinction of the flames leads to purification of the soul. Artwork Details: Tawatchai Somkong "Season of the Brilliant Purple Sky" 1998 ...
Category

1990s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Royal Palms
Located in Kansas City, MO
Heather Farrell Title : Royal Palms Materials : Acrylic on canvas Date : 2019 Dimensions : 4' x 5'. (48 x 60 in.) Signed, COA provided Heather Farrell wor...
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Midlife
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Acrylic on canvas.
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Midlife
Price Upon Request
Touched
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Acrylic on canvas.
Category

2010s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Touched
Price Upon Request
Porteuse - Léopold Survage, modern, abstract, portrait, french, bright, surreal
Located in London, GB
Léopold Survage (1879-1968) Porteuse 1962 oil on canvas 100 x 81.3 cm signed and dated ‘Survage. 48.’ (lower right) Price: $63,000 USD (inc. 5% UK imp...
Category

1960s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Bang, Bang, Banjio
Located in Dallas, TX
In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez writes of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined painti...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Self-Inflicted
Located in Dallas, TX
In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez writes of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined painti...
Category

1990s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Untitled - Oil on Canvas by Roberto Sebastian Matta - 1996
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled is an original oil on canvas realized by Roberto Sébastian Matta in 1996. It comes with a certificate of authenticity by Matta's son ...
Category

1990s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Creek Pea
Located in Dallas, TX
In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez writes of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined painti...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Creek Pea
Price Upon Request
Ore-T-Ba
Located in Dallas, TX
In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez writes of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined painti...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Ore-T-Ba
Price Upon Request
Dinner in the Sky
Located in Dallas, TX
In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez writes of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined paintings, prints and drawings, whose style defies convenient labels. Abstract, surreal, cartoonish, sci-fi fantastic, metaphysical, apocalyptic-Baroque - all of these fit but also fall short of fully describing his art." (Edward M. Gomez, "Futuristic Forms Frolic Under Eerie Texan Skies...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

La vigna di una foglia
Located in Malmo, SE
Technique: Terre colorée sur toile de jute. Delivered with the certificate of authenticity from the archives of Roberto Matta. Artwork size: 100 x 100 cm. Frame size: 114 x 112 cm. Free shipment worldwide. Acquired directly from the artist. “The heart is an eye,” writes Nobel laureate Octavio Paz in an essay on Matta’s paintings. Matta creates a world coloured both by a sunny faith in the future and by visions of impending doom. Roberto Sebastian Echaurren Antonio Matta, who died aged 91 on 23 November 2002, was born in Santiago, Chile, on 11 November 1911 into a family with Spanish, French and Basque roots, and raised in an atmosphere of religiosity. By the age of 21 he had graduated and begun work as an architect, but his leisure time he devoted to sketching and painting. In 1933 he travelled to Europe for the first time, visiting Greece, Yugoslavia, Italy and other countries, and subsequently taking the initiative to collaborate with the architect, Le Corbusier. As time passed, however, Matta’s enthusiasm for a career in architecture waned, and he began to devote himself full-time to art, making early acquaintances with surrealists such as Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí, André Breton and others. Between 1939 and 1948 Matta, like many of his artistic contemporaries, lived in self-imposed exile in the USA, but, after almost 10 years’ absence from Europe, he returned to make first Rome and then, a few years later, Paris his home. Throughout most of the rest of his life Matta commuted between his studio in Paris and his creative refuge in the monastery outside Rome. And it is here, in Italy, that he produced his greatest paintings. Matta’s first retrospective in Sweden was organised in 1956 when his works were exhibited in what was then Galerie Colibri – run by, among others, the artist C O Hultén at number 36 Södra Förstadsgatan in Malmö, Sweden. This was also the time when Matta began to collaborate with poets and other artists in Sweden. He produced the illustrations for Lasse Söderberg’s first anthology of poems, Akrobaterna (“The Acrobats”), published in 1955, and was also responsible for the cover of the Swedish art and literary magazine Salamander. In 1959 the first museum exhibition of Matta’s work in Europe was arranged at the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museet) in Stockholm. Held under the aegis of Pontus Hultén, it was entitled “Fifteen Forms of Doubt” and included 15 or so gigantic paintings...
Category

1980s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Venus
By Edmond Vandercammen
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting an exceptional and rare mixed media watercolor by Belgian artist Edmond Vandercammen. Vandercammen was classically trained and well ...
Category

1920s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Portrait of the Genie
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Federico Castellón (1914-1971) was a Spanish-American painter, sculptor, printmaker and illustrator of children's books. Portrait of a Genie, is an original pencil signed etching,...
Category

Surrealist Abstract Paintings

Surrealist abstract paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist abstract paintings 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 abstract paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Clarence Holbrook Carter, Michael William Eggleston, Sax Berlin, and Elvic Steele. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Acrylic Paint 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 abstract paintings, so small editions measuring 2.25 inches across are also available. Prices for abstract paintings 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 $244 and tops out at $225,000, while the average work sells for $1,846.

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