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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
The Virgen & the Mechanical Creed, Oil, Mixed Media, Hyperrealism, Cuban Art,
Located in Houston, TX
LOOK FOR FREE SHIPPING AT CHECKOUT. The Virgin & The Mechanical Creed - La Virgen y el Credo Mecanico was recently painted by the Cuban artist Brian Sanchez in 2023. It is oil and...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

untitled 14
Located in Spetses, GR
’Ηeavenly Creatures’’ Heroins & magical creatures, in an elegant ,romantic approach, and a perfect technique all the way to the last detail. The female form, the female face is the muse in most paintings, although we can also find a gender neutral approach, an androgyny as a protagonist with the same always features, such as youth, sensualism, innocence and optimism. Inside these dream-like images overfilled with euphoria, these fragile figures are kind souls with rich inner beauty. Figures that we can relate with if we dig deeper into our souls. Sofia Fotiadou...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Blue Green Bust Cat
Located in La Chapelle Aubareil, FR
Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative take...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen

The Sound of the Changing Season - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic
Located in Chicago, IL
A violinist, playing a melancholy tune, helps conjure up the change of season from fall to winter on Halloween, as represented by the black cat. The cat is holding the Tempest in th...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

MusCATteer - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting, Framed
Located in Chicago, IL
Juxtaposing and altering unrelated natural objects with the machinations of man to create a scene of an impossible surreal world, the viewer enters the mind of artist Christopher Kle...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

The Spring Piper
Located in Chicago, IL
An imaginary human hybrid representing “mother nature” resides in a ruined building symbolic of a decaying society. As the crows flutter and the human hybrid plays a bucolic tune, green shoots emerge from the ruins symbolizing rebirth and victory of nature over human destruction of the environment. Christopher A. Klein The Spring...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Enlightenment
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Pool with Rainbow
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Tiger Moth II, The Moon
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Tiger Moth III, The Lights
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Listening to the Earth II
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

The Performance
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Courage
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Spring Hat
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Girl with Poppies
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood Panel, Wax, Oil

Genie II
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Genie II
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Synchronized Swimmer, 1
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Flyer 1
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Cove
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Synchronized Swimmer, 2
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Bimini Road
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood Panel, Wax, Oil

Diva Wading
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Bahamas
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Tree in Rocks - surrealist imagined landscape original realism artwork oil small
Located in London, Chelsea
This original artwork by Laura von Rosk depicts a miniature scale illusionary natural landscape vista. The panorama features thriving tree planted in a bed of rocks and surrounded by...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist Oil on Canvas Magical Realism North Africa Turquoise Sea Yellow Red
Located in La Chapelle Aubareil, FR
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. It may be an overly flamboy...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Surrealist Magical Realism Circus Seaside Kiss Me Quick Oranges Browns Nostalgia
Located in La Chapelle Aubareil, FR
Recalling Britannia, acrylic on canvas, 100cm x 40cm, 2023 Even in his most realistic images, there is a beautiful exaggeration in the paintings of Peter Rodulfo. It may be an overl...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

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 mixed media on linen . Th...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

Wrestlers
Located in London, GB
Oil on board, signed bottom right Image size: 14 x 23 1/4 inches (35.5 x 59 cm) Contemporary style handmade frame Two androgynous bodies interconnecting as an almost geometric unit...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

The Three Gatekeepers
Located in London, GB
Oil on board, signed bottom right Image size: 13 1/2 x 23 1/3 inches (34.25 x 59 cm) Contemporary style handmade frame Three androgynous beings move their hands in a specific order,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Lady Spirit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We are pleased to offer works my this incredible artist who has never before offered his paintings for sale, Gordon Kibbee was born in the very small town of Petroleum, West Virgini...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Flyer 2
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood Panel, Wax, Oil

Scuba and Kite
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Malibu
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

Life is but a Dream
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Jeni Stallings creates work that often draws from her dreams and personal experiences. She tends to render those moments in a muted, femininity-infused surrealism far from the hard-...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Wood Panel

African Portrait, Mid-20th Century Surrealist Portrait of African Tribesmen
Located in Beachwood, OH
Hugh M. Poe (American, 1902-1973) African Portrait, c. 1950 Oil on canvas Signed lower right 31.5 x 41.5 inches 33 x 43 inches, framed Hugh M. Poe was an American portrait painter b...
Category

1950s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Magic Realistic Painting, "Calme and Luxe"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is an original mixed media work on wood by Southern California artist, Cheryl Tall. Its dimensions are 40" x 30" x 1.5". It is unframed. A certificate of authenticity will follo...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Magic Realistic Painting, "Sudden Eclipse"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is an original mixed media work on wood by Southern California artist, Cheryl Tall. Its dimensions are 45" x 25" x 1.5". It is unframed. A certificate of authenticity will follo...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Dark Paradise
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Dark Paradise is an original painting by Elisha Nyong. Elisha created Dark Paradise with Oil on a 56W by 56H inches primed canvas. Dark paradise according to Elisha Nyong speaks abo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Beyond the Horizon
Located in London, GB
Oil on board, signed bottom right Image size: 23 1/2 x 19 1/4 inches (59.5 x 49 cm) Contemporary style handmade frame The Artist Heijligers is a contemporary artist who studied at...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Sculpture
Located in London, GB
Oil on board, signed bottom right Image size: 19 3/4 x 14 3/4 inches (50 x 37.5 cm) Contemporary style handmade frame A toned body hinders its own path, whose otherworldly legs seem...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Manheel
Located in London, GB
Oil on board, signed bottom right Image size: 15 x 11 1/4 inches (38 x 28.5 cm) Contemporary style handmade frame Manheel, with his extravagant appearance, is inspired by the spirit...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Framed Bull
Located in London, GB
Oil on board, signed bottom right Image size: 19 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches (49 x 72.5 cm) Contemporary style handmade frame A bull is standing firmly with an air of awareness lurking in h...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Everyone a Memory - modern paint realism magical landscape surrealistic fantasy
Located in London, Chelsea
This contemporary painting by Laurence O’Toole presents an imaginary landscape that focuses on his classic motif of a red truck combined with a cluster of robins. This romantic impre...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Black Goddess
By Ruth Ray
Located in Hudson, NY
Ruth Ray (1919-1977). Black Goddess, ca. 1960. Gouache on paper, 3.5 x 5.5 inches; 15.5 x 17.5 inches in vintage frame. Matting is newly replaced. Artist identified on verso with pro...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

20th Century Surrealist Portrait of Young African Warrior
Located in Beachwood, OH
Hugh M. Poe (American, 1902-1973) African Warrior Oil on board Signed lower left 40 x 34 inches 42 x 36 inches, framed Hugh M. Poe was an American portrait painter based mostly in I...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Psychic Fallout
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Psychic Fallout is an original painting by Elisha Nyong. Elisha created Psychic Fallout with Oil on a 42W by 45H inches primed canvas. Psychic Fallout according to Elisha Nyong spea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract Surrealist Painting of Lautréamont's Tomb with a Winged Grecian Statue
Located in Houston, TX
Blue and green-toned abstract surrealist painting by Terry Moore. The piece depicts a tomb possibly of Isidore Ducasse Lautréamont, one of Surrealism's literary precursors. A large w...
Category

1990s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled, Tempera, Abstract versus Figurative Art, Figurative Art, Human Figure
Located in Milano, IT
Acrylic on canvas by Mikidadi Bush signed and dated on the front. Bush’s work addresses issues relating to animist culture, creating visions that combine dreamlike atmospheres with t...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Perpetual Change - modern paint realism magical landscape surrealistic fantasy
Located in London, Chelsea
Contemporary painter Laurence O’Toole imaprts a surrealistic landscape scene which captures his classic motif of a red truck, transforming into a cluster of butterflies. This imagina...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Solemn Morris Dancer
Located in London, GB
Oil on board Image size: 5 3/4 x 7 inches (14.5 x 17.75 cm) As can be seen in this painting, Surrealism served as a source of inspiration for Bergner, though he did not consider him...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

View of a Village Square, Stefan Vukmanovic, Belgrade 1924 – 1995 Degernau
Located in Bruges, BE
View of a Village Square Vukmanovic Stefan Belgrade 1924 – 1995 Degernau Serbian Painter Signature: Signed bottom middle Medium: Oil on panel Dimensions: Image size 45 x 60 cm Biography: Vukmanovic (Vucmanovic) Stefan was born in 1924, in Belgrade, former Yugoslavia. He was a Serbian painter of landscapes and town scenes. Vukmanovic studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts with the master teacher and artist Charles Crodel (1894 – 1973). He was a member of the Munich Secession. In this statement of principles, the artists declared their intentions to move away from outmoded principles and a conservative conception of what art was. Throughout the 1930s, many political ideologies (Marxism, Socialism, Capitalist Democracy, Communism and Fascism) were engaged in struggles for dominance, and epitomised the political atmosphere of the era. Surrealism art...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Òréke (Earth to beauty)
Located in Odenton, MD
Akanji Bolaji Òréke (Earth to beauty), 2023 Acrylic on canvas 36 × 38 in | 91.4 × 96.5 cm Unique work Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Bites of Trivial Matter- 3rd Panel in 6 Piece Series by Indian Artist Binay Sinh
Located in Gilroy, CA
"Bites of Trivial Matter," is a six panel work by Binay Sinha, but each piece is also available for sale individually. The artist discusses modernity, specifically the effect in has ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Watercolor, Handmade Paper

Jardin Fantastique
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork. titled "Jardin Fantastique" c.1990, is an oil painting on canvas by noted Haitian surrealist artist Murat Saint Vil, b.1955. It is signed at the lower left corner by th...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Untitled, Tempera, Abstract versus Figurative Art, Figurative Art, Human Figure
Located in Milano, IT
Acrylic on canvas by Mikidadi Bush signed and dated on the front. Bush’s work addresses issues relating to animist culture, creating visions that combine dreamlike atmospheres with t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Figurative painting, "Brief. Torrey Pines"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil painting by San Diego artist, Julia San Roman. Its dimensions are 41" x 61" x 1.5". It is framed as pictured. A...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist Figurative painting, "Brief. Kauai I"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil painting by San Diego artist, Julia San Roman. Its dimensions are 40.75" x 61" x 1.5". It is framed as pictured. A certificate of authenticity wi...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist Paintings/style/surrealist/>paintings>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 2.125 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 $60 and tops out at $295,000, while the average work sells for $3,774.

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