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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
Poetry of the bird, surrealist drawing, 1948
Located in PARIS, FR
Joséphine Beaudouin (1909-2005) Poetry of the Bird, surrealist painting, 1948 Oil on canvas Signed "Joséphine Beaudouin" and dated "1948" lower left 13,7 x 10,6 inch Born in Albi in 1909, Josephine Beaudouin (née Cals) showed an early interest in drawing. At the age of twelve, she moved to Paris where her mother, Jeanne Ramel-Cals, ran a literary salon that was frequented by art world figures such as Ambroise Vollard. In 1925, while her first drawings appeared in the magazine Crapouillot, the young artist entered the School of Decorative Arts where she studied fresco painting. She married the architect Eugène Beaudouin in 1928, with whom she traveled throughout Europe. Beaudouin, a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, designed a series of buildings that were precursors of modern architecture in France (Clichy, Maison du Peuple; Antony, Résidence universitaire Jean Zay). Josephine Beaudouin exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon des Tuileries, the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs. The work of the one that Jean Cocteau described as "bewitching" is full of mystery. Her work bears the stamp of an extraordinary personality. Indeed, Josephine Beaudouin developed a penchant for dreams at a very early age and took refuge in the works illustrated by Gustave Doré. Her technical virtuosity and overflowing imagination were praised by the critics of her time who unanimously greeted her Marmorées (ill.1). Named by René Barotte, these are paintings made on marble slabs from 1955. The artist exploits the infinite resources of the veins of this support which inspires him poetic compositions with unusual subjects. Marked by surrealism, she returns to the fantastic by delivering a prodigious creation of the mind made of dreamed cities and trompe-l'oeil. The 1948 painting that we propose probably represents a red-billed chough. The bird is a recurring theme in the work of Josephine Beaudouin, as in her life. An avid ornithologist, she kept an aviary in her Parisian home where many island birds were kept. She also built up a collection of stuffed birds. Still on this theme, the writer Claude Aveline (1901-1992), author of the poem L'Oiseau-Qui-N'Existe-Pas, invited several visual artists to freely interpret what this bird could be. The first series of works was produced between 1956 and 1963. In 1957, Joséphine Beaudouin delivered a work with a pen of great finesse, now preserved at the Centre Pompidou (ill.2). Several renowned artists also responded to the invitation of the poet such as Jean Cocteau and Ossip Zadkine. The precision of the graphics of our painting testifies to an attentive observation of the anatomy of the birds. The artist paints with great delicacy: the technique is impeccable, the drawing is careful, the material is smooth, the details are represented with great finesse and mastery. Bibliography : Fernand Pouillon...
Category

1940s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Screams for Peace
Located in Zofingen, AG
Sometimes I like to let my paintings do the talking for me when we switch on the news at the moment, it's full of horror when the world is crying out for peace To say that Ta is a v...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Wee One 9 (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Joseph Broghammer Wee One 9 (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting) Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Size: 14x11in Framed: 15x12x1in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1903...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Point To Where It Hurts (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Joseph Broghammer Point To Where It Hurts (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting) Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Size: 66x72in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1898 *o...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Yoni (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Joseph Broghammer Yoni (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting) Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Size: 40x30in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1890 *on stretcher frame -...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Untitled by Anton Kushaev - Surrealist painting, oil pastel on paper, 2023
Located in Basel, BS
Untitled is a work by contemporary Anton Kushaev from the series `Delirium`. In this series, the artist turns to a canonical motif — still life with a flower, the transformation of w...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel

Release Jealousy (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Joseph Broghammer Release Jealousy (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting) Oil on Canvas Year: 2022 Size: 44x34in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1892 *on stret...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Monumental Surrealist Pastel, Of Course We Evolve But Does Anything Ever Change?
Located in Cotignac, FR
Surrealist, figurative large scale pastel of a deconstructed head and other elements by Gordon Muir. With original exhibition title label. Presented in fine silvered wood and fabric custom frame, under glass. A magnificent and truly monumental work of a 'deconstructed' head and three other triptych elements. Influenced by the paintings of Francis Bacon and Salvador Dali the work is intriguing and arresting at the same time. We can see how Muir gained such success later for his sculptural pieces as he is even in this work thinking in three dimensions. On closer inspection the details reveal themselves, the eyeball reminiscent of the shell of a horse chestnut, the furry surface to the tongue all in soft pastel shades. The three upper elements, in monochrome revealing the development of man. A really intriguing and strong painting that would grace any interior and be the talking point of any collection. It is very unusual to find a pastel of these proportions. The medium itself gives the work a softness creating an intriguing juxtaposition to the subject itself. Sculptor, born in Hawick, Gordon Muir was educated at art colleges in London, Scotland and the University of New Mexico, after which he spent time working with woodblock artists in Japan. He has more recently concentrated his artistic endeavours on sculpture, much of this in collaboration with the Paul Hogarth...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel

Luck Memory (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Joseph Broghammer Luck Memory (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting) Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Size: 21x17in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1897 *Framed - read...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

The Swimmer
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

Oil, Archival Paper

A Boy and his Dog Oil and Mixed Media Cuban Hyperrealism Framed
Located in Houston, TX
LOOK FOR FREE SHIPPING AT CHECKOUT OR GALLERY RATE A Boy and His Dog shows the hyperrealism of modern Cuban art that is now available to the world...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

My Problems Hump (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Joseph Broghammer My Problems Hump (Hummingbird, Portrait, Storytelling, Oil Painting) Oil on Canvas Year: 2022 Size: 40x30in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1891 *on stret...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

United and Fate Challenge I
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Mental closeness connects two dissimilar beings, despite great differences. keywords; surrealism, portrait, oil painting, earth tones, figurative painting, strangeness, contemporary...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled by Anton Kushaev - Surrealist painting, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2022
Located in Basel, BS
The Untitled is part of the series "Frame of Sorrows" created by Anton Kushaev for the installation at Voskhod Gallery's showcase in Basel in 2022. This painting was exhibited in the...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Untitled by Anton Kushaev - Surrealist painting, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2022
Located in Basel, BS
The Untitled is part of the series "Frame of Sorrows" created by Anton Kushaev for the installation at Voskhod Gallery's showcase in Basel in 2022. This painting was exhibited in the...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Untitled by Anton Kushaev - Surrealist painting, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2022
Located in Basel, BS
The Untitled is part of the series "Frame of Sorrows" created by Anton Kushaev for the installation at Voskhod Gallery's showcase in Basel in 2022. This painting was exhibited in the...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Astro Diver
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

Oil, Archival Paper

Young Boss jamming with Girlfriend
Located in Zofingen, AG
I paint people; I want my paintings to have character to tell a story but without words as if using mime. To be dramatic, emotional, sometimes theatrical but always with feelings and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Conflab" Oil on Canvas 18x22"
Located in Southampton, NY
In continuing with representing fine artists that are connected to the music industry we are please to announce that we are the only gallery in the United States representing the wor...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Egg flowers
Located in Zofingen, AG
“The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.” Lucian Freud My hero, Vincent Van Gogh, painted his sunflowers in Arles, in the Sou...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Happy Days
Located in Nottingham, GB
Anna starts by sketching her figures. Based on everyday people, everyday life. Embossing her art boards with telephone directory before adding oils. Incredible style, akin with Franc...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Conspirators hatching a plot
Located in Zofingen, AG
I am an accomplished fine portrait artist, but my real passion is in colour and how the arrangement of colour can produce a different emotional experience of art. I want original and...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Rondo
Located in Nottingham, GB
Anna starts by sketching her figures. Based on everyday people, everyday life. Embossing her art boards with telephone directory before adding oils. Incredible style, akin with Franc...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Egg girl
Located in Zofingen, AG
02 / 10 / 2023 I signed a book contract for Egg Island; it will now go through the publishing process and will be in print next year. I was overwhelmed by the editorial board's fee...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Boss getting a hair cut
Located in Zofingen, AG
Welcome to my world of Monkeys and Lions smoking cigars, the Egg family, my Lovers Jazz Conspirators and Ladies in Red. Someone once said of my work. 'I often wonder why people worl...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

King of Jazz
Located in Zofingen, AG
Ta has a vibrant personality and loves nothing more than a happy toe-tapping audience appreciating melodic jazz. Jazz and lady in red oozes musical finesse and sultry song. Ta is ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Modern Figurative Surrealism Watercolor Painting, Drawing 'Faces of Deceit'
Located in Surfside, FL
On heavy Arches deckle edged paper. This combines text or poetry in calligraphy on the side. Gary Hansmann (1947-2008) was active/lived in California. He is known for abstract, Surrealism figure painting. Gary William Hansmann was born Dec. 4, 1940, in San Diego to Ethel May Williams and Lester Hughes Hansmann. He grew up in Encinitas and served in the Army in the early 1960s. Gary Hansmann, San Diego artist, teacher and gallery owner, was known for his Surrealist nude and animal drawings and graphics. He spent time working in Paris and exhibiting his art throughout Europe, but San Diego was home until he moved to Washington state. His life partner was fellow artist, Jill Hosmer. Mr. Hansmann, a respected printmaker and prolific artist, created thousands of drawings, prints and paintings as well as hundreds of poems. His interest in bullfighting led to a book of poetry and illustrations on the subject, “La Corrida, The Run”, a collection of poetry & artwork written as he was preparing for his first bullfight. Prologue written by famous Mexican Matador Antonio Lomelin. The book is written in English and translated into Spanish on opposing pages and was published in 1983. Mr. Hansmann taught intaglio and monotype at the Academy of Fine Arts in San Diego from 1977 to 1980 and at the San Diego Museum of Art in 1980. He also gave lectures and demonstrations throughout the art community, including at the San Diego Art Guild in Del Mar and Artist Equity in San Diego. Although he attended Palomar College in San Marcos and studied lithography at the San Diego Academy of Fine Arts, Mr. Hansmann was mostly self-taught and self-educated. Mr. Hansmann had shows in several art-world capitals, including Paris; Lisbon, Portugal; Cologne, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; and New York. he had one-person exhibits at the Loft Gallery in Clarkston, the Lewis-Clark State College Center of Arts & History, the Carnegie Art Center in Walla Walla and the Valley Art Center in Clarkston. During his long, distinguished career as an artist he had numerous one-person exhibits all over the world and the United States. His group shows are too numerous to mention, but his one-person exhibits were in Koln, Germany; Bruxelles, Belgium; Paris, France; Viana do Castelo, Portugal; Lisbon, Portugal; Tecate, Mexico; and British Columbia, Canada; and many states at home. Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif. San Diego Academy of Fine Arts Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, N.Y. University of Southern California, Idyllwild (ISOMATA) University of San Diego San Diego Museum of Art James Copley Library, La Jolla, Calif. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy Centre de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal Museo Taurino de la Communidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Atelier Lacouriere et Frelaut, Paris, France Gordon Gilkey Collection Portland Art Museum, Portland, Or. Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay...
Category

1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, India Ink, Watercolor

Conspiracy
Located in Zofingen, AG
Unlike many surrealists, who present their dreams, the central subjects of Ta’s work are people and bold colours. Her work opens up new art dimensions to explore. Her Blue Valentine ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Egg Boy on a windy day
Located in Zofingen, AG
02 / 10 / 2023 I signed a book contract for Egg Island; it will now go through the publishing process and will be in print next year. I was overwhelmed by the editorial board's fee...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sax duo
Located in Zofingen, AG
Welcome to my world of Monkeys and Lions smoking cigars, the Egg family, my Lovers Jazz Conspirators and Ladies in Red. Someone once said of my work. 'I often wonder why people worl...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Modern Figurative Surrealism Watercolor Painting, Drawing California Artist
Located in Surfside, FL
"The Sadness of Mr. lapin After the Artist Left" Gary Hansmann (1947-2008) was active/lived in California. He is known for abstract, Surrealism figure painting. Gary William Hansmann was born Dec. 4, 1940, in San Diego to Ethel May Williams and Lester Hughes Hansmann. He grew up in Encinitas and served in the Army in the early 1960s. Gary Hansmann, San Diego artist, teacher and gallery owner, was known for his Surrealist nude and animal drawings and graphics. He spent time working in Paris and exhibiting his art throughout Europe, but San Diego was home until he moved to Washington state. His life partner was fellow artist, Jill Hosmer. Mr. Hansmann, a respected printmaker and prolific artist, created thousands of drawings, prints and paintings as well as hundreds of poems. His interest in bullfighting led to a book of poetry and illustrations on the subject, “La Corrida, The Run”, a collection of poetry & artwork written as he was preparing for his first bullfight. Prologue written by famous Mexican Matador Antonio Lomelin. The book is written in English and translated into Spanish on opposing pages and was published in 1983. Mr. Hansmann taught intaglio and monotype at the Academy of Fine Arts in San Diego from 1977 to 1980 and at the San Diego Museum of Art in 1980. He also gave lectures and demonstrations throughout the art community, including at the San Diego Art Guild in Del Mar and Artist Equity in San Diego. Although he attended Palomar College in San Marcos and studied lithography at the San Diego Academy of Fine Arts, Mr. Hansmann was mostly self-taught and self-educated. Mr. Hansmann had shows in several art-world capitals, including Paris; Lisbon, Portugal; Cologne, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; and New York. he had one-person exhibits at the Loft Gallery in Clarkston, the Lewis-Clark State College Center of Arts & History, the Carnegie Art Center in Walla Walla and the Valley Art Center in Clarkston. During his long, distinguished career as an artist he had numerous one-person exhibits all over the world and the United States. His group shows are too numerous to mention, but his one-person exhibits were in Koln, Germany; Bruxelles, Belgium; Paris, France; Viana do Castelo, Portugal; Lisbon, Portugal; Tecate, Mexico; and British Columbia, Canada; and many states at home. Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif. San Diego Academy of Fine Arts Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, N.Y. University of Southern California, Idyllwild (ISOMATA) University of San Diego San Diego Museum of Art James Copley Library, La Jolla, Calif. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy Centre de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal Museo Taurino de la Communidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Atelier Lacouriere et Frelaut, Paris, France Gordon Gilkey Collection Portland Art Museum, Portland, Or. Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay...
Category

1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, India Ink, Watercolor

The Shadow Kiss - 2023, dark figurative oil painting by Daniela Astone
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Part of Daniela Astone's series of figures in different ethereal and surrealistic spaces. "The Kiss" brings to mind Gustav Klimt's famous 1908 painting of the same name but instead of an abstracted gold background, Astone creates a mysterious creature enveloping and suspending the figure in mid-air. The dark monster looks ominous until you notice the nude figure leaning into her partner, her hands lightly caressing or leaning on the the amorphous creature. Her body is relaxed and her eyes closed. As a classical artist who paints the nude figure everyday, Astone is masterful at depicting women at ease in their natural bodies rather than women self-conscious of their nudity—posing but fearful of exploitation at the same time—a theme in art history that continues today. Some of the sweeping strokes of black are inspired by Japanese paintings techniques, and on the lighter areas there are rain drop falling from a blue-grey cloud in the background. Artist Bio Daniela Astone was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1980 and raised in Porto Santo Stefano...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Linen, Canvas, Oil

Modern Figurative Surrealism Watercolor Painting, Drawing 'The Fire of my Soul'
Located in Surfside, FL
On heavy Arches deckle edged paper. This combines text or poetry in calligraphy on the side. Gary Hansmann (1947-2008) was active/lived in California. He is known for abstract, Surrealism figure painting. Gary William Hansmann was born Dec. 4, 1940, in San Diego to Ethel May Williams and Lester Hughes Hansmann. He grew up in Encinitas and served in the Army in the early 1960s. Gary Hansmann, San Diego artist, teacher and gallery owner, was known for his Surrealist nude and animal drawings and graphics. He spent time working in Paris and exhibiting his art throughout Europe, but San Diego was home until he moved to Washington state. His life partner was fellow artist, Jill Hosmer. Mr. Hansmann, a respected printmaker and prolific artist, created thousands of drawings, prints and paintings as well as hundreds of poems. His interest in bullfighting led to a book of poetry and illustrations on the subject, “La Corrida, The Run”, a collection of poetry & artwork written as he was preparing for his first bullfight. Prologue written by famous Mexican Matador Antonio Lomelin. The book is written in English and translated into Spanish on opposing pages and was published in 1983. Mr. Hansmann taught intaglio and monotype at the Academy of Fine Arts in San Diego from 1977 to 1980 and at the San Diego Museum of Art in 1980. He also gave lectures and demonstrations throughout the art community, including at the San Diego Art Guild in Del Mar and Artist Equity in San Diego. Although he attended Palomar College in San Marcos and studied lithography at the San Diego Academy of Fine Arts, Mr. Hansmann was mostly self-taught and self-educated. Mr. Hansmann had shows in several art-world capitals, including Paris; Lisbon, Portugal; Cologne, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; and New York. he had one-person exhibits at the Loft Gallery in Clarkston, the Lewis-Clark State College Center of Arts & History, the Carnegie Art Center in Walla Walla and the Valley Art Center in Clarkston. During his long, distinguished career as an artist he had numerous one-person exhibits all over the world and the United States. His group shows are too numerous to mention, but his one-person exhibits were in Koln, Germany; Bruxelles, Belgium; Paris, France; Viana do Castelo, Portugal; Lisbon, Portugal; Tecate, Mexico; and British Columbia, Canada; and many states at home. Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif. San Diego Academy of Fine Arts Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, N.Y. University of Southern California, Idyllwild (ISOMATA) University of San Diego San Diego Museum of Art James Copley Library, La Jolla, Calif. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy Centre de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal Museo Taurino de la Communidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Atelier Lacouriere et Frelaut, Paris, France Gordon Gilkey Collection Portland Art Museum, Portland, Or. Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay...
Category

1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, India Ink, Watercolor

Deep Down - 2023, surrealistic oil painting
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
In a continuation of the idea that originally inspired her massive "Milky Way" painting, Astone creates figures floating in an ethereal deep sea. Being a native of Italy, Astone is f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil, Canvas

Monday: 3 Down, Method of Removing Hair Roots (12)
By Ben McLaughlin
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Ben McLaughlin Monday: 3 down, Method of removing hair roots (12), 2008 Oil on panel 6 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches (17.1 x 11.4 cm)
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Her Majesty the Muse figurative interior painting mint green female success love
Located in Zofingen, AG
Her Majesty The Muse I remember the words our teacher said “Do not wait for a sudden inspiration, for a visit from the Muse. You should begin working, otherwise the Muse will pass b...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Israeli Kibbutz Artist Judaica Shul Torah Ark Surrealist Gouache Painting
By Leo Roth
Located in Surfside, FL
Leo Roth (1914–2002), also known as Lior Roth, was an Israeli painter, born in 1914 in Austria-Hungary. (later Poland) In 1920, Roth moved to Germany and, in 1933, immigrated to Palestine. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and completed frescoes in Italy and France in the 1950s. Roth first settled in Tel Aviv, then moved to Kvutzat Kinneret, then finally to Kibbutz Afikim where he remained until his death. He served as Director of the Art Academy of the Kibbutzim. In 1959, he was awarded the Jordan Valley Prize for Painting. Roth exhibited in the United States, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Holland, Sweden, and Denmark. He died in 2002. Education: 1930 School of Art, Duisberg-Hamborn, Germany, under Josef Doppelfeld Academy of Fine Arts, Hamburg, Germany 1951 Fresco and mural painting, Ecole nationale superiere des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France 1951 fresco in Italy Teaching: Director of Art Academy of the Kibbutzim Roth's work was influenced by Cubism and bears much in common with the work of compatriot painter Naftali Bezem. His colourful canvases contain biblical imagery and references to early Israeli pioneer culture. Selected Solo Exhibitions 2015 Home, Montefiore Art Gallery, Tel Aviv 2009 Kibbutz Machanayim Art Gallery 2000 Retrospective, Museum of Art, Kibbutz Ein Harod 1997 Oil paintings, Kibbutz Machanayim Art Gallery 1993 Solo Exhibition, Beit Yad Lebanim, Tiberias 1983 Oil paintings, ''Bet-Emanuel'', Ramat Gan 1980 Wilfrid Israel Museum, Oriental Art and Studies, Kibbutz Hazorea 1977 Tiroche Gallery, Old Jaffa 1976 Hatzrif Art Gallery, Be'er Sheva 1957 Oil paintings, Tel Aviv Art Museum 1950 Katz Gallery, Tel AvivSelected exhibitions 2000: Chaim Atar Art Museum, Ein Harod, Israel: The Works of Leo Roth: An Exhibition Selected Group Exhibitions 2014 Revelations, Jerusalem Print Workshop 2013 Group Exhibition, Yair Art Gallery, Tel Aviv 2008 The First Decade: Hegemony and Plurality, Ein Harod Art Museum 2000 Group...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Purple Couch
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The title, "Purple Couch," serves as a focal point for the composition. The color purple is often associated with creativity, spirituality, and transforma...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Her Green Robe
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The heart of this artwork features a woman seated gracefully on her bed, a place of comfort and solace. Her posture exudes a sense of tranquility and introspection, as she gazes into...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Companion
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 (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Afeez Aregbede...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Canvas

Cheerleader 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Always be your BIGGEST cheerleader, first. Remember to stay true to yourself and have faith in yourself. Even on difficult days, never give up on making your dreams happen. Go after ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Happy Day
Located in Natchez, MS
Cavagnaro again toys with anthropomorphism. This work is a playful mirror, as the artist encourages the viewer to see themselves in the subject.
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Be A Man
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Beneath my sturdiness is a puddle surrounded by the moistness of fresh mud- soft and mushy- and it’s how I learned to nurture and love flowers. I’ve been told my best trait has to b...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Surrealist Trompe L'oeil Apples OIl Painting
By Lucien Mathelin
Located in Surfside, FL
size uncludes frame. Lucien Mathelin, born in 1905 in Binche, A province of Hainaut, in Wallonia, Belgium, and died in 1981 in Paris. French painter. His work was influenced by surrealism andtinged with irony. Lucien Mathelin was born in a family of artists and has benefited from artistic training since childhood. He made his first oil on canvas at the age of 15 in 1920. In 1924, he exhibited at the Salon d'Automne which he became a member. He did not study plastic arts, but traveled to Morocco (1925-1926) and Greece (1933-1934), where he enriched his palette. In 1937, Mathelin worked for a while for Raoul Dufy to realize the gigantic painting...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sacrifice - Surreal Painting of Golden Yellow Bird of Prey Hunting a Mouse
Located in Preston, GB
Sacrifice - Surreal Painting of Golden Yellow Bird of Prey Hunting a Mouse, by Contemporary British Artist Original, Oil on Canvas 30 x 30 inches Unframed The painting continue...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Blue Water Sea
Located in Norfolk, GB
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 takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams Drawing Award at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize. Known as the UK’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing; part of the prize is a solo show at Hastings Contemporary, scheduled for 2024. Whilst Isabel always has a tale to tell for each of her images, you may or may not choose to go on the journey with her or you may indeed have a different story, one of your own that jumps off the page at you, that that you decide to follow. Artwork Details: Call of the Sea, 122 x 152cm, Collaged woodblock print, acrylic inks on Somerset satin paper, 2023 Artwork Provenance: from the Artist Studio photo credits, Isabel working, black and white shots, James Brown In Isabel's own words: Call of the Sea: The sea was calling, calling its sirens song. It threw tempting little waves flirtatiously on the shore. 'Come,' it said, 'come.' The sea glittered with promise, it whispered sweet nothings as it rolled the tiny gem pebbles on the beach. 'Come to me,' it said, 'I will show you the world, the true meaning of life.' The people felt the pull, the blood pumping in their veins, like a magnet they were drawn towards the sea. Mesmerised, bewitched, they stripped of their clothes, leaving them in molehills on the beach. The breeze caressed bare bottoms, free from the constraints of life. They stepped cautiously at first but as excitement overwhelmed them they broke into a run as they neared the water. The sea tickled their toes and beckoned them in, making sweet promises of delightful pleasures. *Please note we are happy to ship this work rolled in an art tube. Whilst the work is on heavy duty art paper and mixed media, the artist is happy that the painting will be rolled. This is a more cost effective and environmentally sound method of shipping. Shipping via this method is free. About Isabel Rock and her work: Taking inspiration from Japanese woodblock prints and Indian miniature painting Rock has developed a unique collage technique that combines bold structures with large-scale woodblock prints and intricate detailing. The subject is a grand mixture of humour, drama, hidden morals, fanciful characters, modern culture, mythical beings and fantastical situations. Rock creates a world that pulls you in and demands your attention. Quality of line is paramount, the drawings are created using a dipping pen and acrylic ink. An essential tool is a squirrel...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen

Couple with Bird and Bouquet, Large Surrealist Oil Painting by Ramon Santiago
Located in Long Island City, NY
A romantic painting of a couple with bouquet and bird by Rochester-born artist, Ramon Santiago. This circular oil on canvas painting is signed and dated 1971.
Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Lovers and Others (unique mid century modern painting) - double sided artwork
Located in New York, NY
Nahum Tschacbasov Lovers and Others (Two Unique Works), 1978-1979 Gouache on Two-sided Paper (Two Signed Works) Hand signed twice: once on each side 11 × 15 inches (each side) A rare...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Ink, Gouache

Pavanne - 17th Century Court Dance - British exhibited Surrealist oil painting
By John Armstrong
Located in London, GB
Painted by "Modern British" Surrealist artist John Armstrong this oil/tempera on board depicts Pavanne. The Pavanne is a 17th century Court dance. The figures bunch up rhythmically and are almost camouflaged in the darkness, almost invisible. Quite what the significance in 1944 of this historical subject is, we are not sure, but the dark overtones in the shadowy large figures with golden head and glowing hands make it quite a mystical work. It is an almost Surreal Modern British artwork and a very interesting painting. The work is painted by a very rare to find artist who is highly sought after. The painting was dirty when purchased. However since cleaning the 80 years of dirt away it has revealed the stunning figure group with their heads and golden hands and the signature and date in the lower right. A real gem of a painting has been revealed with the restoration clean. It is an important early British Surrealist work and has excellent provenance. Signed and dated 1944 lower right. Provenance. Alex Reid / Lefevre Galler 1945. Condition. oil/tempera on board, 34 inches by 20 inches unframed and in good condition. Housed in its original fine gallery frame, 43 inches by 29 inches framed and in good condition. John Rutherford Armstrong ARA (1893-1973) was a British artist and muralist who also designed for film and theatre productions. He is most notable for the Surrealist paintings he produced. Armstrong was born in Hastings in Sussex. His father was a clergyman and Armstrong was educated at St. Paul's School in London. He studied law at St. John's College, Oxford, but switched to art and became a student at St John's Wood Art School throughout 1913 and 1914. Armstrong served with some distinction in the Royal Field Artillery in Salonika during World War One before returning briefly to complete his studies at St John's Wood Art School. After a period of some economic hardship, Armstrong began to build a career as a theatre designer in London and to gain a client base for his artworks. He received a commission to decorate a room in the Portman Square home of the art collector Samuel Courtauld, and also painted a frieze for the ballroom at 1 Kensington Palace Gardens. Armstrong held his first solo exhibition in 1928 at the Leicester Galleries in London. In 1933 he joined Unit One and displayed a set of semi-abstract paintings at their one, extended, exhibition. Throughout the 1930s Armstrong continued to work as a designer as he also continued to develop his art. He produced a number of remarkable posters for Shell and also produced four posters for the General Post Office. Armstrong designed a number of book covers for the Hogarth Press...
Category

1940s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Tempera

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

The King's Bride of Double Honor
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This Piece was inspired by the story of the Bride of a King. She was so loved by the King because of her great beauty, but the people of the Land loved her so much, not just for her ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Women in the forest oil painting surrealism
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Agustín Úbeda (1925-2007) - Women in the forest - Oil Oil on paper glued to table Oil measures 36x50 cm. Frame measures 45x59 cm. Provenance: Family of the artist. Includes certificate of authenticity from Galeria Sastre...
Category

1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Board, Oil

Gerard Tunney, Dancers with Fans, Original surreal painting
Located in Deddington, GB
A group of dancers chat and gossip using the fans to emphasise l their reactions The triangles of the fans are echoed throughout the painting; in the dancers’ feet, the dancers’ arms...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Girl in Green
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This artwork beautifully portrays the poignant story of a young girl who bravely faces the absence of her father at home, as he fulfills his honorable duty as a soldier. It delves into the complex emotions she experiences, capturing the resilience she must summon to navigate the challenges of growing up without his presence. Through this touching depiction, the artist sheds light on the sacrifices made by military families and the profound impact it has on the lives of children. 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 Daniel Oguche...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Be Brave
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 (Issued by the Gal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

THE WALL (CHAGALL SURREALISM)
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed lower front by Ferjo. Image size 50 x 70 inches. Canvas is not stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Surreal Collage: 'Six Feet Apart, Six Feet Under'
Located in New York, NY
Barnett, a surrealist artist incorporates discarded mechanical objects and gadgets into his artwork. His work is characterized by its unique and eclectic mix of materials, which rang...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Surreal Collage: 'Planetary Machines '
Located in New York, NY
Barnett, a surrealist artist incorporates discarded mechanical objects and gadgets into his artwork. His work is characterized by its unique and eclectic mix of materials, which rang...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

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.

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