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Surrealist Portrait 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
Color:  Beige
Boy Scout with a Pipe and Billiard Ball: Surrealist Portrait in Oil on Polyester
Located in Soquel, CA
Clean, surreal depiction of a Boy Scout by Robert Peluce (American, 1937-2004). Dressed in full uniform, a Boy Scout holds a pipe to his lips. Above the ...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Polyester, Oil

Self Improvement - Surreal Android Portrait in Oil on Canvas with Textured Gesso
Located in Soquel, CA
Dark surreal portrait of an humanoid cyborg performing surgery on itself by Andy Smith (American, 20th Century). The android is pulling on a wire emanatin...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Oil

Blue III
Located in Nashville, TN
"Blue III" is an an-acrylic-on-canvas painting by Cuban artist Carlos Gamez de Francisco from his series "Oh Dear." As in his other portrait series, the artis...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Modern Times V
Located in Nashville, TN
"Modern Times V" is an acrylic-on-canvas painting from a small series by Cuban artist Carlos Gamez de Francisco. Done at the beginning of the Covid-19 pan...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Ladies at Tea, " Mixed Media Tile, 2007
Located in Chicago, IL
Liverpool-based artist Pauline Hughes takes a fluid approach to her ceramic practice, combining aspects of painting, collage, and printmaking into her w...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Ceramic, Paper, Acrylic

"Citadel" Oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Austin Howlett's "Citadel" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a larger than life woman reclining in a seaside landscape. Artist Autobi...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Vessel" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Alpay Efe's "Vessel" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts three hands gently overlapping on each other in an almost tender embrace. About th...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Urbane Profile, " Mixed-Media Tile, 2007
Located in Chicago, IL
Liverpool-based artist Pauline Hughes takes a fluid approach to her ceramic practice, integrating techniques of painting, collage, and printmaking into ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Ceramic, Paper, Acrylic

Meeting, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2019 Style: Figurative Art, Subject: Meeting Size: 24" x 20" x 1'' inch, 61x51x3 cm, Unframed, Stretched on Wooden Bar, Gallery Wrapped, Ready to Hang. Tigran Hovoumyan was born on November 8, 1969 in American Armenia...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

UNTITLED
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"UNTITLED" OIL AND ACRILIC ON CANVAS SIGNED 35.5 X 27.5 INCHES Sofía Ruiz was born in 1982. What she expresses through her paintings has to do with whe...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

"The Helpful Sail" Oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Nathan Durfee's "The Helpful Sail" is an oil painting that depicts a mystical giant rising from the river with a sailboat in hand as other sail boats pass by. Artist bio: Nathan D...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist Crucifixion
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Crucifixion by Kate Orr (British 20th century) signed lower corner, circa 1990's oil painting on canvas, framed framed: 31 x 25 inches Superbly painted, Modern British oil pain...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Cynthia I
Located in Long Island City, NY
A mystical portrait of a woman holding a mask in a surreal, dream-like setting by Ramon Santiago. Artist: Ramon Santiago, American (1943 - 2001) Title...
Category

1970s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Italian Surrealist Oil Painting Jean Calogero Big Eyed Girl Doll
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed lower right 'canvas measures 15 X 10.75 framed it measures 19 X 15.75 Calogero was born August 20, 1922 in Catania, Sicily. Self-taught Surreal Artist First exhibitions in 1945 in Sicily and Rome were very successful. He arrived in Paris in 1947 and studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He is best known for his Surrealism and genre works. His paintings are dreamlike and visionary. They travel to an infinite space created by the artist through his memories, the sky and the sea so dear to him. In his paintings there are a few common themes: the masks with their dual dimensions that hide or shows only what you want, the profiles of the women, and the horsemen, drawn as the Sicilian tradition requires. He exhibited at the Gallery Hervé in 1951 and the following year he went to New York to present his show, then in 1953 he was invited to Los Angeles, where he returned two years later, and from where he regularly exhibited his works, and San Francisco. In 1954, Maximilien Gauthier devoted a book to him published by "The Gemini." The first exhibition in Japan was in 1965. He was awarded the Grand Silver Medal by the City of Paris in 1957. Calogero had countless exhibitions in Paris, in the fifties, plus the American exhibitions in New York (Associated American Artists, 1952), Los Angeles (James Vigevano Galleries, 1953) and then later in Japan and in major galleries in Italy. He lived and worked for many years in Paris and Italy. He died in 2001. Galerie Hervè, Parigi 1950. Associated American Artists - New York 1952. James Vigevano Galleries, Los Angeles 1953. Galerie Madsen, Parigi 1954/1960. Antologica, Tokyo 1965. Galleria La Robinia, Palermo 1969. Florida Gallery, Chicago 1970. Galleria Il Cavalletto, Catania 1971. Galleria De Rosa, Milano 1972. Galleria Pinacoteca, Roma; L'Incontro, Taranto 1973. Galleria Idea-Bellini, Firenze; David Galleries, Bari; Palazzo Melloni, L'incontro, Bologna; Galleria Schettini, Milano; Galleria Pinacoteca, Roma; Galleria La Meridiana, Verona; Pier della Francesca, Arezzo 1974. Galleria L'isolotto, Napoli; Pinacoteca, Roma; Galleria del Corso, Latina 1975. Galleria Michelangelo, Firenze; Pinacoteca, Roma 1977. Galleria Robert Philip...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

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Set Alight
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Previously Available Items
Italian Surrealist Oil Painting Jean Calogero Big Eyed Girl Doll
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed lower right 'canvas measures 15 X 10.75 framed it measures 19 X 15.75 Calogero was born August 20, 1922 in Catania, Sicily. Self-taught Surreal Artist First exhibitions in 1945 in Sicily and Rome were very successful. He arrived in Paris in 1947 and studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He is best known for his Surrealism and genre works. His paintings are dreamlike and visionary. They travel to an infinite space created by the artist through his memories, the sky and the sea so dear to him. In his paintings there are a few common themes: the masks with their dual dimensions that hide or shows only what you want, the profiles of the women, and the horsemen, drawn as the Sicilian tradition requires. He exhibited at the Gallery Hervé in 1951 and the following year he went to New York to present his show, then in 1953 he was invited to Los Angeles, where he returned two years later, and from where he regularly exhibited his works, and San Francisco. In 1954, Maximilien Gauthier devoted a book to him published by "The Gemini." The first exhibition in Japan was in 1965. He was awarded the Grand Silver Medal by the City of Paris in 1957. Calogero had countless exhibitions in Paris, in the fifties, plus the American exhibitions in New York (Associated American Artists, 1952), Los Angeles (James Vigevano Galleries, 1953) and then later in Japan and in major galleries in Italy. He lived and worked for many years in Paris and Italy. He died in 2001. Galerie Hervè, Parigi 1950. Associated American Artists - New York 1952. James Vigevano Galleries, Los Angeles 1953. Galerie Madsen, Parigi 1954/1960. Antologica, Tokyo 1965. Galleria La Robinia, Palermo 1969. Florida Gallery, Chicago 1970. Galleria Il Cavalletto, Catania 1971. Galleria De Rosa, Milano 1972. Galleria Pinacoteca, Roma; L'Incontro, Taranto 1973. Galleria Idea-Bellini, Firenze; David Galleries, Bari; Palazzo Melloni, L'incontro, Bologna; Galleria Schettini, Milano; Galleria Pinacoteca, Roma; Galleria La Meridiana, Verona; Pier della Francesca, Arezzo 1974. Galleria L'isolotto, Napoli; Pinacoteca, Roma; Galleria del Corso, Latina 1975. Galleria Michelangelo, Firenze; Pinacoteca, Roma 1977. Galleria Robert Philip...
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Be A Good Human Being
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Society II
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OTKAZ
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OTKAZ
H 23 in W 23 in
untitled
Located in Spetses, GR
Original artwork by Sofia Fotiadou, ready to hang. Signed at the bottom left corner. Certificate of authenticity will be provided by the gallery.
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untitled
H 47.25 in W 47.25 in D 1.19 in
The State of Critical Thinking
Located in Nashville, TN
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Italian Modernist Surrealist Bowl Of Fruit Still Life Oil Painting La Fruttiera
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Girl Portrait, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
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"Emergence" Tempera Painting
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Large Italian Modernist Surrealist Lady Mod Oil Painting "La Mia Amica Carla"
Located in Surfside, FL
Lazzaro Donati (Italian, 1926-1977), Framed oil painting "La Mia Amica Carla" 1962. image: 27 x 19 inches, Framed: 39 x 31 inches. In good condition. Lazzaro Donati was born in Florence and attended the Academy of Fine Arts. He began to paint in 1953, and in 1955 held his first exhibition at the Indiano Gallery in Florence. Within three years eleven exhibitions followed in Italy, and as his reputation grew he was invited to give major exhibitions in London, Paris, New York, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo. He is considered one of the foremost contemporary Italian painters and his paintings hang in museums and private collections throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. His work i faucist recalling the works of the french Raoul Dufy, Dunoyer de Segonzac, Francois Gall and jean Jansem. Donati lived and worked at 24 Piazza Donatello in Florence, the square where generations of artists have created works worthy of the great Florentine tradition. As you entered the narrow hallway to his studio, a gilded life-size Venetian angel beckoned you to his door. Once inside, the present faded away and you found yourself in an atelier where early masters might have worked during the Renaissance. Within, luxurious Persian rugs set off the innumerable objects d’art and antique furnishings. Light poured in through the sloping glass wall on the north side. A dramatic stairway led to an overhanging balcony which served as a private gallery where the artist hung some of his favorite early works. To the left of the entrance was a smaller studio where Donati sculpted, with a window overlooking the famous old English cemetery where tourists laid flowers on the grave of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. In the main studio itself, where Donati received his clients in an atmosphere as polished as an office of a top executive, one hardly realized that it was here that the artist actually painted. His easel was covered with Persian blue velvet, the painting on the easel was already framed, his chair was upholstered in red velvet and on his palette the colors were arranged with the precision of a Byzantine mosaic. In a corner stand were his latest works, framed and ready to be sent off to his next exhibition in Europe or America. He spoke fluent French and English as well as some Spanish and German. “After all”, he said, “you've got to know how to sell a...
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Surrealist portrait paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist portrait 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 portrait 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, green, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Rudolf Kosow, Carlos Gamez De Francisco, Tslil Tsemet, and Suzi Fadel Nassif. 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 portrait paintings, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are also available. Prices for portrait 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 $27 and tops out at $400,000, while the average work sells for $4,500.

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