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Surrealist 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
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
ShaoHua Nong Surrealist Original Oil On Canvas "Light And Shade"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Light And Shade Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 12 x 16 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This painting ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Le Blouson
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas, Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she crea...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - La Bourasque
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas, Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she crea...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - L’Escalier
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas, Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she crea...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Conspirators you saying it's me?
Located in Zofingen, AG
Ta's collection of conspirators is full of mischief and secrecy. Each character is always up to something naughty or scheming a dodgy deal, "I want a desperado feel to it, moody as i...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Beyond Tranquility-original still life-seascape oil painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Beyond Tranquility" by Luis Fuentes beckons admirers into a realm where surrealism and realism converge seamlessly, creating an original still life interior-seascape painting that i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Artist Cat Blue Flowers
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 take...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen

"Forest Elf" textured mixed technique, 2022
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Figurative Magical oil Painting, Figurative Painting 34" x 65" inch by Ion Xiua. Mixed technique. A magical moment, in which we recognize that we are one with the animals. The animal...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cotton Canvas

Surrealist Landscape with Feathered Object in Acrylic, Paper, and Gold Leaf
Located in Soquel, CA
Surrealist Landscape with Feathered Object in Acrylic, Paper, and Gold Leaf Vibrant and colorful surrealist landscape by Oregon artist Hugh Webb (American, b. 1940). The main subject of this piece is a large Y-shaped object that appears to be covered in feathers created out of small ovals of paper. The landscape is comprised of a striped ground, with wispy blue tree-like object emerging from holes in the ground. Squares of pastel blue, teal, and pink float throughout the scene. The background is made of layers of distressed gold leaf. Unsigned, but was acquired from a collection of the artist's work. Board size: 24"H x 32"W Hugh Webb (American, b. 1940) earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah and a Master of Fine Arts degree (1969) from the University of Oregon. Webb studied with Demetrios Jameson, Mark Sponenburgh, Gordon Gilkey, and John Rock...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Untitled
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Matija Bobicic Title: Untitled Size: 23 x 29 Inches (Framed: 24.5 x 30.5 inches) Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Edition: Original Year: 2018 Not...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Dos Cuba Libres
Located in Cazadero, CA
Dos Cuba Libres Never been here before? The busy rhythm, around every corner another bay, and resting will not come soon but still an elegant chaos
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Clay, Canvas, Charcoal, Oil

Shape of my heart, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original , surrealism, ready to hang :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Philanthropic Device
Located in Cazadero, CA
Philanthropic Device is a choice to be made, to give or better to be open to receive, lingering at the point of conveyance. A relationship between here and there and ribbons arrayed ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Clay, Charcoal, Oil

I Burnt My Hand on a Hot Cake
Located in Cazadero, CA
I Burnt My hand On a Hot Cake Morning Light through the aging blinds of indecision, together, moving, catching up to the sounds of the opening day.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Clay, Canvas, Oil

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Pink Woods
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 take...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen

A enormous sleeve, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original on canvas, ready to hang :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Love is found, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original, ready to hang :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes :: Signat...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Chromatic butterfly - pink, Painting, Oil on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
An original piece from the series “Please do not kill butterfliesâ€
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Small Study in White" - surrealist still life, lace, skull, patterns, shell
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting features the colors of the rainbow as they appear in white objects. Guy Robinson is inspired by the work of Paul Klee, Albrecht Durer and Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Atlanta based artist Guy Robinson attended the Atlanta College Of Art on a Ford Foundation grant and has worked extensively in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and drawing. His surrealists works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and have a place in important collections including the Museum Of Contemporary Art, Georgia (MOCA,GA). Robinson has over thirty-five years experience teaching drawing and painting for Emory...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

Jin Liu Surrealist Original Oil Painting "Production Plan-2"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Production Plan-2 Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 12 x 12 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This paintin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Small Study in White 3" - surrealist still life, lace, skull, patterns, shell
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting features the colors of the rainbow as they appear in white objects. Guy Robinson is inspired by the work of Paul Klee, Albrecht Durer and Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Atlanta based artist Guy Robinson attended the Atlanta College Of Art on a Ford Foundation grant and has worked extensively in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and drawing. His surrealists works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and have a place in important collections including the Museum Of Contemporary Art, Georgia (MOCA,GA). Robinson has over thirty-five years experience teaching drawing and painting for Emory...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

"Small Study in White 3" - surrealist still life, lace, skull, patterns, shell
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting features the colors of the rainbow as they appear in white objects. Guy Robinson is inspired by the work of Paul Klee, Albrecht Durer and Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Atlanta based artist Guy Robinson attended the Atlanta College Of Art on a Ford Foundation grant and has worked extensively in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and drawing. His surrealists works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and have a place in important collections including the Museum Of Contemporary Art, Georgia (MOCA,GA). Robinson has over thirty-five years experience teaching drawing and painting for Emory...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Mother
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she create...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Dreamer (monkey gorilla iceberg arctic surrealist oil painting light blue)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Superbe original painting on canvas depicting a gorilla in a contemplative state on top of an iceberg while a young woman next to him plays the guitar. keywords; guitar playing woma...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

I Am Not Alone 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"I Am Not Alone" by Joshua Salami is a captivating artwork that delves into the profound bond between a woman and her cherished pet, transcending the conventional role of a companion...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Tree of Life Blue
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...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - La Tierra
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas with knife Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - La Muleta
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas with knife Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Ocean Girl
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic on canvas Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she cr...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - El Cielo
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas with knife Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Abajo
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas with knife Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - El Sol
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas with knife Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - El Fuego
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas with knife Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - El Aire
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas with knife Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Watermelon by the Sea" surrealistic still life on the beach, Florida
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Watermelon by the Sea" is a surrealistic still life on the beach. Ackrill takes inspiration from his beach surroundings in Florida. Artist Bio Anthony Ackrill was born in Alaska i...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sovereigns of the Sea: Pulpo Reina Urraca I, Emperatriz de Toda Españ
Located in East Hampton, NY
"a" (English translation: "Octopus Queen Urraca I, Empress of All Spain") 24"×18" acrylic on canvas ©2021 Georgia Griffin Queen Urraca I was the first woman ever to reign in a weste...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The plotting of the Conspirators
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid oil painting, I embraced cubism and surreal influences to create an ensemble of enigmatic figures, each cloaked in vibrant, contrasting colors, with intense, penetratin...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Butterfly Dreams, Original Surrealist Painting
Located in Boston, MA
Butterfly Dreams 30.0 x 40.0 x 2.0, 8.0 lbs Acrylic on canvas Hand signed by artist Artist's Commentary: "A woman is seemingly in flight over the ocean, with her body being made up of butterflies. More are flying in, others are flying out. The woman has no legs - in fact, upon closer inspection, she consists of only head, hair, arms and hands - the butterflies have flown in to form the shape of her body - but in some places, you can see right through to the water or sky. Surely, this must be a dream. And perhaps, it is the dream of the woman depicted in the painting. That is for the viewer to decide." About the Artist: Tom Blood...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Just Fine
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Matheus is greatly influenced by the city he now calls home -- New York has long been the epicenter of fashion, hip hop, and street art, where he feels his interest in contemporary a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

I Cry To
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Matheus is greatly influenced by the city he now calls home -- New York has long been the epicenter of fashion, hip hop, and street art, where he feels his interest in contemporary a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

India Ink, Watercolor

I Am Not Alone 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"I Am Not Alone" by Joshua Salami is a captivating artwork that delves into the profound bond between a woman and her cherished pet, transcending the conventional role of a companion...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Mass Extinction 6 - In pieces, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The girl symbolises Gaia, wherever she walks things start to grow. The towers are unfettered capitalism and in front of them the teeth are consumption that can't be satiated. The puz...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

L'abbraccio, 2020
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gigino Falconi was born in Giulianova (Teramo) in 1933. He began painting at the age of sixteen, and in 1954 he obtained a Liceo Artistico of Pescara. During the early years of his c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Goldfish XLII, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
A further exploration of the Goldfish theme. Painting onto a solid surface allows the colours to be more concentrated and richer. Here I've reversed the colours (except the eyes) ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Goldfish XLIII, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
A further exploration of the Goldfish theme. Painting onto a solid surface allows the colours to be more concentrated and richer. This painting is sold without a frame but pleas...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Untitled, 2013, Acrylic on canvas, African Art, Surrealism
Located in Milano, IT
David Ochieng Untitled 2013 Acrylic on Canvas Canvas measurements: 73 x 118 cm Frame size: 75 x 120 x 3 cm Signed lower right "Ochieng Malindi Kenya ...And god created a woman.......
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas, Acrylic

Goldfish XLV, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
A further exploration of the Goldfish theme. Painting onto a solid surface allows the colours to be more concentrated and richer. This painting is sold without a frame but please...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Musicians At a Party 2022 colorful oil/canvas abstract surreal Armenian Artist
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Musicians At a Party is a colorful, abstract, surrealist painting by Armenian artist, Vatche Geuvdjelian painted in 2022. Artist’s Statement “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰�...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

Circular butterfly, Painting, Oil on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
An original piece from the series "Please do not kill butterflies", pins and oil on thick paper (mounted on a wood panel), 35 x 30 cm, 2018. Please, all these dead animals .....
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Visitor In My Studio" 2021 colorful oil on canvas abstract Armenian Artist
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
"Visitor In My Studio" is a colorful, abstract, surrealist painting by Armenian artist, Vatche Geuvdjelian painted in 2022. Artist’s Statement “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱�...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

MEJOR SOLAS
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"MEJOR SOLAS" OIL AND ACRILIC ON CANVAS SIGNED AND DATED 2010 EXHIBITED MUSEO DEL BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA 47.5 X 59 INCHES Sofía Ruiz was born in ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Heavy Weather, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A group of friends sail in a small ship that wallows atop rolling seas. Some engage in various activities to keep their spirits high while the lookouts have an ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

10 Angry Men
Located in Zofingen, AG
I have sent my work to over 65 countries and some significant landmarks such as Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair, 5th Ave New York, Malibu beach in California Hong Kong, Monaco, M...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

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

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Elephant
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Matheus is greatly influenced by the city he now calls home -- New York has long been the epicenter of fashion, hip hop, and street art, where he feels his interest in contemporary a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

ShaoHua Nong Surrealist Original Oil On Canvas "Staircase"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Staircase Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 12 x 16 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This painting is unstretched Year: 2015 Artist: ShaoHua Nong...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Face III
By Okuda
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Okuda San Miguel Title: Face III Medium: Synthetic enamel on wood Size: 27.6 x 27.6 inches (70 x 70 cm) Year: 2020 Notes: Hand Signed. Custom Framed. Original COA Included. ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Surrealist paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist 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 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, green and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Elvic Steele, Rudolf Kosow, Isabel Rock, and Henry David Potwin. 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 2 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $2,999.

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