Surrealist Figurative 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
Surreal intimate scene, green and blue, boat and fashion magazine
Located in Carballo, ES
Ventura A. Pérez (1992) is one of the most seductive artists on the contemporary Spanish scene. After earning a doctorate in contemporary art from the University of Vigo, he moved to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
A Surrealist Abstract 1950s Mid-Century Modern Female Nude Bather, Beach Scene
Located in Chicago, IL
A Visually Striking Abstract Surrealist 1950s Mid-Century Modern Beach Scene of a Female Nude Bather by Notable Chicago Artist, Harold Haydon (Am. 1909-1994). "Model on Beach", Oil ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board, Graphite
Valentine - surreal, contemporary, figurative, oil on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary surrealistic painting is by Toni Hamel.
The Canadian artist’s imaginative artwork is rooted in storytelling that is often wrapped in humour to convey important mes...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Nude Breakfast", A Fantastic Surrealist Mid-Century Modern Oil: Couple at Table
Located in Chicago, IL
"Nude Breakfast", A Fantastic Surrealist Mid-Century Modern Oil Painting of a Nude Couple at a Breakfast Table by Notable Chicago Artist, Harold Haydon (Am. 1909-1994). Executed in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Board, Graphite
Mind Blowing (for Mike)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Two photographic motifs, which can by no means fit together in real life, result in a coherent and at the same time completely absurd image on the painting level. Something that has ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Love From 1970s - 21st Century, Surrealism, Figurative, Classical, African Man
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
Bor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century Surrealist Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Beachwood, OH
Surrealist Landscape
Oil on canvas
'R. Lee Glenn' verso
30 x 24.25 inches
31.75 x 26.75 inches, framed
Surrealism aims to revolutionize human experience. It balances a rational visi...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Goddess the Violinist and Swan
Located in Zofingen, AG
As the artist, I've poured my soul into this canvas, blending oils to evoke a sense of enigmatic allure and surreal wonder. With each stroke, I've strived to weave a narrative that t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Held Inside a Shaft of Light (Window, Skyscape, Warm, Dreamy, ~29% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Annieo Klaas
Held Inside a Shaft of Light
2023
Oil on Canvas
40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 30.48 cm)
Signed lower right
COA provided
*On stretcher frame - gallery wrapped - ready to hang
...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$1,777 Sale Price
28% Off
"La Soledad / Robinson Crusoe" Contemporary Red Surrealistic Triangle Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Contemporary surrealistic figurative triangle painting by an artist named Zeus. The work features a realistically rendered male figure in robes reaching out towards a floating eyebal...
Category
Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The House at the End of the Road - Blue Original Floral Artwork on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s "The House at the End of the Road" is a striking blend of hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and imaginative narrative art. This 12-inch round acrylic p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
The Dream a Marcos, Figurative Surrealism, Original oil Painting
By Ashot Yan
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ashot Yan
Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind
Medium: Oil on Linen,
Year: 2018
Style: Portrait, Surrealism,
Subject: The Dream a Marcos,
Size: 19" x...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Vicious Circle (donut cake lady dessert americana vintage surreal painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
A hyperrealistic doughnut dominates Vicious Circle, its glossy chocolate glaze reflecting light with mouthwatering precision. Seated atop it, a young woman in a vintage swimsuit appe...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Bulb of Africa 3
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Bulb of Africa was not just a hairstyle; it was a celebration of African heritage and a testament to the resilience of its people. Passed down through generations, it represented strength, beauty, and the rich tapestry of African traditions. The Bulb showcased the natural texture and volume of African hair, transforming it into an intricate masterpiece of braids, twists, and coils.
The Bulb of Africa became a symbol of empowerment, reminding people of their strength, resilience, and the beauty of their shared heritage. It served as a reminder that hair was more than a physical attribute; it was a connection to something greater—a connection to their ancestors, their community, and celebrating the beauty within themselves.
Beyond their physical beauty, African women possess an immeasurable inner strength that resonates through "Bulb of Africa." Odunayo masterfully captures this strength, highlighting the resilience and determination that have defined African women throughout history. The women depicted in the artwork emanate confidence, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. Their gaze speaks volumes, embodying the stories of countless African women who have overcome adversity, shattered barriers, and carved out their own paths to success. In "Bulb of Africa," Iyiola Odunayo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Antique American School Surreal Interior Scene Portrait Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American school surreal oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Measuring 30 by 35 inches overall and 25 by 30 painting alone.In excellent original condition. Handsomely fram...
Category
1930s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$1,960 Sale Price
20% Off
Bobby' Nightmare (pug dog face helicopter vintage surreal oil painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Bobby's Nightmare" by Rudolf Kosow is a striking blend of humor and surrealism, juxtaposing an exaggeratedly expressive pug with an intense military scene. The dog's bulging eyes, lolling tongue, and shocked expression contrast sharply with the highly detailed helicopter and soldiers descending from the sky, creating an absurd and unexpected composition.
The painting plays on the idea of a pet's anxiety, turning an ordinary moment of canine surprise into an action-packed, almost cinematic spectacle. The hyperrealistic rendering of the pug’s fur and facial details enhances the surrealism, making the implausible scene feel eerily convincing. With its mix of realism and whimsy, Bobby’s Nightmare captures the chaotic energy of an overactive imagination—whether that of a dog startled by its surroundings or a playful human interpretation of a pet’s exaggerated emotions.
keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, americana...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Surrealist Oil Painting Magical Realism Lionel Kalish Italian Home Fantasy Scene
Located in Surfside, FL
Lionel Kalish (American B.1931)
"A Villa on the Sea",
c. 1980
Oil on canvas
Hand signed lower right L.Kalish
Bark Frameworks Inc. N.Y. label verso
16" x 24"
Lionel Kalish born...
Category
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Destiny's Path, Hawaii - Surreal Mid Century Hawaiian Figurative Abstract
Located in Soquel, CA
Destiny's Path, Hawaii - Surreal Mid Century Hawaiian Figurative Abstract
Symbolistic and romantic 1940s surreal figurative of pastel orange figure...
Category
1940s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
Surrealist Oil on Canvas Magical Realism North Africa Turquoise Sea Yellow Red
Located in Norfolk, GB
Waiting in Ceuta, acrylic on canvas, 100cm x 80cm
Even in his most realistic images, there is a beautiful exaggeration in the paintings of Peter Rodulfo...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
surreal scene oil on canvas painting surrealism
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Francesc Gironés (1904-1997) - Surrealist scene - Oil canvas
Oil measures 38x46 cm.
Frame measures 47x55 cm.
Francesc Gironés was a painter from Poblenou about whom little is known,...
Category
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Surrealist painting on board, bright colors and green shadows, diptych
Located in Carballo, ES
Ventura A. Pérez (1992) is one of the most seductive artists on the contemporary Spanish scene. After earning a doctorate in contemporary art from the University of Vigo, he moved to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Forever (surreal painting vintage couple man woman blue Grey monochrome)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Rudolf Kosow’s Forever delivers a striking blend of surrealism and vintage aesthetics, reinforcing his thematic exploration of fragility and disintegration. The figures—a well-dresse...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Pigging Out at the Diner, Surreal Anthropomorphic Pig Satirical Illustration
Located in Soquel, CA
A satirical, surreal depiction of a pig at a lunch counter by an unknown artist (20th Century). This scene, full of symbols and satire, portrays the anth...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Illustration Board
Detrás
Located in CAMPO REAL, ES
"Detrás", Behind, it is a work that invites reflection and contemplation. Its square format and careful composition divide the space into two vertical strips, each with its own sym...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Immateriality" by Rehfeld - Contemporary Surrealist with Two Gray Figures
Located in Carmel, CA
Steven H. Rehfeld (American, born 1954)
"Immateriality" 2006
Oil Paint, Pencil, Canvas, Stretcher Bars
The artist signed the back of the painting.
In "Immateriality", Steven H. Rehf...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Pencil, Stretcher Bars
"The Second Coming" (2024) by Morgan Cameron, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Morgan Cameron’s (US based) “The Second Sighting” (2024) is an oil painting on panel that depicts a surreal landscape that has a wolf with piercing eyes standing in the moonlight.
A...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Large French Surrealist Oil Painting Male Figurative Scene
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Figurative Abstract
French School
small frame
oil painting on board
painting: 20.5 x 21 inches
overall size: 21x 21 inches
condition: overall very good and pleasing
provenance: from ...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Surrealist Acrylic Figurative Painting, "Whole" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
An original 10” x 12” x 1.5” Surrealist Acrylic Figurative Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or deliver...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Graphite
Phenomenon II (oil painting surrealist cat paws men vintage clothing nostalgia)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
People encounter a domestic animal that is commonplace and familiar, but the disproportionate scale creates fascination, fright and this perspective renders the human speechless. Similar to the satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels", people are confronted with an inexplicable encounter and do not know how to react to it. Is the situation perplexing because a dog is huge, just taking a nap and does not notice the people around it, or are humans too tiny and do not recognize their "absurd" existence?
keywords; surrealism, animals, cat, oil painting, earth tones, figurative painting, strangeness, contemporary surrealistic, unsettling, contemporary figurative painting, dreams, symbolic composition, cat paw
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Equestrian Style and Decor II - Contemporary surrealistic horse painting
Located in DE
Gamez de Francisco paints and photographs very passionately, making statements filled with symbolism. He frequently includes insects in his artwork. He says: Flying insects represent...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Armando Villagran Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Armando Villagran (Mexican, 1945-1995)
Untitled (Figure with Animal), 1991
Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right
Canvas: 55"h x 43.5"w, overall (with frame): 56"h x 44"w
Born ...
Category
1990s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Best Friends I (spaniel puppy dog ear surreal scale animal boy farm earth tones
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
We love Rudolf's latest series and particularly this exquisite demonstration of TLC in "Best Friends". The artist says "Two inseparable friends, regardless of the size differences, t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Hopeful (black labrador, dog pet, woman, vintage, animal, surrealist painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In this moving piece by Rudolf Kosow, the canvas captures a tender and intimate moment between species. The focus is a deeply expressive black dog, portrayed with a level of detail t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Companion oil on canvas painting surrealist european art
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: Companion (Compañera)
Artist: Félix Ferreras
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 28.7 x 23.6 inches
Framing: Unframed
Description
The artwork Companion (Compañera) by Félix Ferr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$838 Sale Price
41% Off
FAKE (yellow eggs cowboys vintage americana surrealist oil painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
in FAKE, three cowboys stand side by side, dressed in dusty, timeworn attire, they exude an air of quiet contemplation, perplexed with their hands resting on their hips as they gaze ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Happy (Young lady on a cake strawberry dessert vintage figurative oil painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Happy" by Rudolf Kosow is a surreal and dreamlike composition that transforms an ordinary dessert into an expansive, otherworldly landscape. A woman rests peacefully, partially subm...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Interior Jungle - Original Unique Artwork
Located in London, GB
Interior Jungle 2021
Original Unique Artwork
oil on linen
Interior Jungle 2021
oil on linen 46 x 36 cm
A figure surreal looking figure seemingly without a face sits on a red and white patterned sofa in an interior.
Sarah Jeffries...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Hemerocallis III" (2022) by Sybiline, Oil Painting, Pink & White Day Lily
Located in Denver, CO
Sybiline's (CAN based) "Hemerocallis III" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a pink and white day lily.
About the Artist:
Sybiline is a Canadian artis...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
10a
By Leonor Fini
Located in Columbia, MO
Lithograph on Arches paper
Exemplaire B/165
Category
1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Archival Paper, Lithograph
$1,920
"Hemerocallis II" (2022) by Sybiline, Oil Painting, Pink Day Lily
Located in Denver, CO
Sybiline's (CAN based) "Hemerocallis I" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a pink day lily.
About the Artist:
Sybiline is a Canadian artist based in Q...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Last Hit (surreal painting golf player vintage blue Grey golf course)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Rudolf Kosow’s Last Hit presents a striking surrealist vision, blending elements of vintage Americana with an eerie sense of absence. The golfer, depicted in muted monochrome tones w...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Holiday End - Surreal Christmas Scene, Original Oil on Canvas, Framed
By John Hrehov
Located in Chicago, IL
John Hrehov is a master at storytelling. Here, the artist presents us with a curious scene. In a sparsely decorated room albeit family portraits, a son is witnessing his father doing something very peculiar. Hrehov calls on the viewer to examine the scene more closely - asking ourselves what traits are being passed on to this innocent witness? The piece is framed in a simple white floater frame measuring 26 x 38 inches.
John Hrehov
Holiday End
oil on canvas
24h x 36w in
60.96h x 91.44w cm
JHR020
John Hrehov
Education
1985 MFA-Painting, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1981 BFA-Painting, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH.
Solo Exhibitions
2017 John Hrehov, Paintings and Drawings. Tom Thomas Gallery, Indiana University East, Richmond, IN.
2012 Shades from White to Black, New Drawings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY.
2011 John Hrehov: Charcoal. Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne.
2009 John Hrehov: A Survey 1999-2009 Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY.
Paintings and Drawings. Seerveld Gallery, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL.
2004 John Hrehov: Drawings and Paintings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY.
2002 Paintings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY.
2001 Charcoal. Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne.
John Hrehov, Paintings and Drawings. Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2000 The Picture Proper. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY.
Fearful Symmetry. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN.
Allegories in Contemporary Life. Yvonne Rapp Gallery, Louisville, KY.
1999 Paintings and Working Drawings. Adams Hall Gallery, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL.
1998 John Hrehov. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY.
John Hrehov: Paintings and Drawings. Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL.
1997 Object Lesson, Paintings, and Drawings by John Hrehov. Yvonne Rapp Gallery, Louisville, KY.
1995 John Hrehov. Trinity Art Gallery, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL.
1993 John Hrehov: Selected Works 1980-1992 Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Group Exhibitions
2019 2019 Alumni Exhibition. Reinberger Gallery at The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH.
Out Of The Closet. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY.
1026 West Berry Street: The Fort Wayne Art School. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN.
2018 Artlink Regional Exhibition. Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN.
2017 Sola Grace-Faith-Scripture: An Exhibition of Sacred Visual Art. Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological
Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN.
Norman Bradley...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Golfers 45 - original figurative landscape painting - contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
Step into the serene and orderly world of "Golfers 45," a char...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Wrong Place Wrong Time (surreal painting monkey iceberg scale animal chimpanzee
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Rudolf Kosow’s Wrong Place, Wrong Time is a haunting surrealist composition that juxtaposes disparate elements to create an unsettling yet mesmerizing scene. A colossal chimpanzee, i...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
COMPANEROS
By Carlos Manuel Salazar Ramirez
Located in Los Angeles, CA
CARLOS MANUEL SALAZAR RAMIREZ
"COMPANEROS"
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, SIGNED
COSTA RICA, DATED 1989
16 X 24 INCHES
Carlos Manuel Salazar Ramírez
Born 1954
Ramírez is a artist born i...
Category
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
$950 Sale Price
42% Off
Holding Leather Bag (Brown leather bag surréaliste oil painting vintage dark)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Superbe bold original painting on canvas depicting the vivid portrait of a red boxing glove held by an anonymous figure in a coat.
keywords; boxing glove, red glove, Brown coat, ame...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Diana Bathing with Cupid Mid 20th Century French Surrealist Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Diana & Cupid
French Surrealist artist, mid 20th century
oil painting on board, unframed
board: 18 x 13 inches
provenance: private collection, Paris
condition: a few minor scuffs and...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Tense (pet dog, bulldog, baseball, animal portrait art, surrealist oil painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Tense," a thought-provoking piece by Rudolf Kosow, presents a surreal interplay between a colossal bulldog and a diminutive baseball player. The dog's face, detailed with astonishing realism, conveys a palpable intensity through its piercing gaze. The size disparity between the dog and the player underscores a narrative ripe with anticipation.
The baseball player, clad in traditional attire, stands with bat at the ready, embodying a moment of concentration and readiness. This portrayal of the player, so starkly contrasted against the vastness of the bulldog's features, evokes a feeling of an undercurrent of suspense, as if the outcome of this encounter balances on a knife-edge.
Through "Tense," Kosow delves into the theme of confrontation and the moments that precede action. The artwork captures the stillness before the storm, the quiet before the play, offering a metaphor for life's high-pressure situations where individuals face larger-than-life challenges.
The painting invites reflection on the psychological interplay between fear and courage, the small against the mighty, and the personal tenacity required to stand firm in the face of overwhelming odds. "Tense" is not just a snapshot of a surreal encounter but a broader commentary on the emotional landscapes we navigate when confronted with formidable obstacles.
keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Surrealist Nocturnal Hawaiian Figurative Landscape w. Blue Skirted Woman & Moon
Located in Soquel, CA
Surrealist Nocturnal Hawaiian Figurative Landscape w. Blue Skirted Woman & Moon by Marguerite Louis Blasingame
Striking mid century modern Hawaiian noct...
Category
1940s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
A Woman of My Dream II - Original Figurative Portrait Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mohamad Khayata’s original figurative artworks are the result of five years of displacement and deal with themes of migration, memory, and identity. Mohamad’s paintings convey an array of emotions, ranging from bliss and comfort to tension and uncertainty. Many of his paintings portray a sense of transience, which is all the more palpable when considering that Khayata's intimate work is a tribute to displaced people and to their daily life stories that, far from familiar surroundings, are filled with effort and hope.
Khayata created this original painting with acrylic on canvas. It is 39 inches tall by 31 inches wide. It is signed by the artist on the back of the canvas. This painting is stretched, wired, and ready to hang. Free local Los Angeles area delivery. Affordable Continental U.S. and worldwide shipping. A certificate of authenticity issued by the art gallery is included with this original work.
Born in Damascus, Syria, artist Mohamad Khayata was forced to flee his home country due to ongoing political conflict. Khayata has been living in Beirut, Lebanon since 2012. His work is a resounding call for transformation and unity within his home country. His photography project "Stitching my Syria back" was chosen to be part of Journeys Festival International 2016 as a landmark for the “Look up” project in Leicester, where his photographs were installed on ten buildings. In the last five years, Khayata also participated in ten collective exhibitions across Europe and the Middle East. Holding his BA in Fine Arts obtained at Damascus University, Khayata is a bastion of Syrian legacy, memory, home, and happiness.
REPRESENTATION
Artplex Gallery Los Angeles, California, USA
EXHIBITIONS
2020-23 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles
2019 “Nota Bene,” Artplex Gallery Los Angeles, California
2018 “Takhalli,” 4th edition of the Laboratory of Arts Programme, partnership with The Goethe Institute, City of Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut Art Fair, 392RMEIL393 Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
“Umm Al-Zuluf,” 392RMEIL393 Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
“Aegean Sea,” 392RMEIL393 Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2017 “Umm Al-Zuluf,” 392RMEIL393 Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut Art Fair, Beirut, Lebanon
Sharjah Art Bienalle, SAFIR
“Stitching My Syria Back Together,” The Alexandria Library, Manchester, UK
2016 “Revealing,” Beirut Art Fair, Gallery One Palestine, Beirut, Lebanon
Journeys Festival International 2016
TA’AROF workshop, Sharjah Art Bienalle, SAFIR
“Look Up,” Project in Leicester
Inside Beirut, The Gallerist, Beirut, Lebanon
“The Third Space,” British Council in London and Brussels, UK
2015 “Walking on Thread...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Parting (pet dog, bulldog, cowboy, animal portrait art, surrealist oil painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Parting," a surrealistic painting by Rudolf Kosow, masterfully employs scale to create a poignant narrative of farewell. The canvas is dominated by the face of a bulldog, each hair and whisker intricately detailed, exuding a warmth and expressiveness that captures the essence of the breed. The bulldog's large, soulful eye, reflecting a quiet resignation, suggests an awareness of an impending separation.
Perched thoughtfully on the dog's snout, a diminutive figure of a man wearing a cowboy hat sits, his posture one of contemplative sorrow. The man dangles his legs over the edge of the snout, a symbol of the precipice between companionship and the solitude of parting.
Kosow's work deeply explores the themes of connection and departure. The intimate positioning of the man against the vastness of the dog's facial landscape evokes the shared history and emotional bond between human and animal. The painting's title, "Parting," may imply an imminent physical separation, yet the closeness of the two subjects suggests an unbreakable emotional tie that distance cannot sever.
In this piece, Kosow invites the viewer to consider the bittersweet moments of goodbye that are an intrinsic part of life's journey, highlighting the enduring nature of love that remains through any farewell. "Parting" is a testament to the poignant beauty found in the strength of connections that transcend the constraints of size and species.
keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Three Graces - Original Surrealist On Board
Located in Soquel, CA
The Three Graces - Original Surrealist On Board
Dramatic and dynamic fantasy scene by Russell R. Tripp (American, 1942-2025). This piece depicts a dream like scene with two nude wom...
Category
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Venezuelan Surrealism Architectural Oil Painting Emerio Lunar Latin American Art
Located in Surfside, FL
Provenance: Galeria Durban Cesar Segnini, Caracas Venezuela.
Emerio Dario Lunar was born on January 27, 1940 in Cabimas, Zulia state. Self-taught ...
Category
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Soulcollector" By Mariska Karto, Original Surrealist Photography
Located in Denver, CO
"Soulcollector" is a striking gothic surrealist painting by acclaimed realist painter Mariska Karto, created with oil paint, photo paper, and an aluminum plate.
Mariska was born i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Metal
Not Alone - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women, Flora
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
Oluw...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Five Red Tulips - Pink Original Floral Artwork on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s "The House at the End of the Road" is a striking blend of hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and imaginative narrative art. This 12-inch round acrylic p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Here Too, Isn’t It George (surreal painting vintage crack in the blue sky grass)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Two men dressed in early 20th-century garb crouch across a fractured path, peering intently into a massive rupture that tears through both the earth and the sky. They appear to be ex...
Category
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Small surreal house, green and yellow, oil on board
Located in Carballo, ES
Ventura A. Pérez (1992) is one of the most seductive artists on the contemporary Spanish scene. After earning a doctorate in contemporary art from the University of Vigo, he moved to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Bide Your Time - 21st Century, Surrealism, Figurative, Women, Africa, Globe
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
Bor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Janet and Bill, Surrealist Painting of Woman and Cat w/ Party Hats
By Mary Spain
Located in Beachwood, OH
Mary Spain (American, 1934–1983)
Janet and Bill, 1970s
Oil on canvas
Signed middle right, titled verso
26 x 30 inches
32.5 x 36.5 inches, framed
Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spai...
Category
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Surrealist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist figurative 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 figurative 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, orange, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Rudolf Kosow, Carlos Gamez De Francisco, Henry David Potwin, Ferjo, and Fernando de Jesus Oliveira. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil 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 figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 2.13 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative 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 $1 and tops out at $400,000, while the average work sells for $3,770.