Surrealist Paintings
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.
Early 2000s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A whimsical scene unfolds as a group of ibis birds roam the lawns of the St. Petersburg neighborhood in Florida. Meanwhile, bunnies residing in the houses watch as the giant birds...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Archival Ink, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Acrylic, Panel
Artist Comments
A man and a woman press against a tree while a ram charges towards it. This surreal encounter represents the idea of trying to complete a task and meeting res...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Archival Ink, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Glitter, Acrylic
Artist Comments
The artwork depicts the Nine of Pentacles card, symbolizing rapidly growing success, incoming financial satisfaction, and wealth. White bison figures represen...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen, Woodcut
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Graphite
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A slow-moving sea turtle swims with determination, balancing a cupcake on its head. It evokes feelings of solitude, peace, and joy. The artwork, painted over ...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A surreal portrait of a jaguar overlaid with a glowing peony. "She moves unapologetically through space, through water, through the land," says artist Miranda...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Wax, Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
The artwork reflects on the abundance of wildlife in Florida and the constant struggle humans face in controlling nature. Dominating the scene, a giant egret hovers over houses while alligators lurk in the water, signifying the untamable wildness of the environment.
About the Artist
Artist Kat Silver paints surrealist compositions with a whimsical and satirical approach. She draws inspiration from the imagery of her dreams and the symbolisms present in her surroundings. The image of the rabbit has become an important character and signature in Kat's work. For her, they represent power and taking control of one's life. Through her art, she invites the viewer to question the mundanity of daily existence and embrace the magic within them. "I believe human beings have a lot we can learn from nature," says Kat. "If we watch and listen to the earth and all its creatures, we can learn to fully enjoy our lives instead of being caught up in materialism, drama, and stress." Kat started to paint when she was seven years old, with her uncle as her teacher. She received her BA in Painting at Nazareth College in 2001 and succeedingly studied at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she mastered Art Therapy. Kat works in her home studio on a small desk strewn with supplies—surrounded by walls adorned with artwork that inspires her. Beyond her studio, Kat feeds her soul in nature, exploring wooded parks, forests, oceans, and streams. She often goes to antique shops to spark her creativity.
Words that describe this painting: Florida, wildlife, swamp, surreal, surrealism...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"Figures move through a surreal landscape occupied by elements from the city and the countryside," explains artist Michael Wedge. Michael creates a curious juxtaposition of everyday city street life and sprawling nature. People move about as if through normal traffic, with a yellow taxi...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Oil
