Surrealist Photography
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
Half of me is an ocean.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Elephant in the room.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
April is the cruelest month.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The wish.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The toast of last night.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The pilot.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The girls.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The find.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The bargain.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
That good night.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Stellar stories.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Ship of fools.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Invincible.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Indomitable.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Almost home.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
A fine romance.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
When there's nobody worth talking to.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
They're at it again!
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Only on Thursdays.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Now.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
$3,200
Nohow!
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
It's always the same.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Beware the Jabberwock.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Before breakfast.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
And a good handsome shape it is.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
As she described it afterwards.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Star gazer.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Self portrait as a butterfly.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Poet's house.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Have a nice day.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The somnambulist.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Looking glass house.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The experience.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Abdullah's prayer.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The waiting game.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The secret.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Stories will be told.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Alligator woman.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Alligator man.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The garden game.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
The slumber party.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
“Foreign Bodies” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
By Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Foreign Bodies” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag
From "Rite of Spring" series
In this melancholy se...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée
TIE Fighter Beatles Large Oversize Pop Art Print Signed Limited Edition
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
TIE Fighter Beatles
by B A T I K
Pop art work featuring the Fab Four Paul McCartney , George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon running away from Star Wars TIE fighters chasing...
Category
2010s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Archival Pigment
Man Ray, Composition, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios (after)
By Man Ray
Located in Southampton, NY
Héliogravure on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios, 1980. Published and printed ...
Category
1980s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Lithograph
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
Untitled 4
Located in Winterswijk, NL
The City of Women from the serie Lollipop.
Edition: 10 ex
"Victoria Lykholot, an artist and lecturer from Ukraine. After graduating from the Faculty of Philosophy in 2007. For seve...
Category
2010s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Man Ray, Composition, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios (after)
By Man Ray
Located in Southampton, NY
Héliogravure on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios, 1980. Published and printed ...
Category
1980s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Lithograph
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
Chrysler Building: The Smokestack and the Skyscraper
Located in Miami, FL
Before Long Island City blossomed into a landscape of high-rise residential development, it was a gritty industrial area. One of the iconic images of the LIC was four monumental smo...
Category
1980s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Man Ray, Composition, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios (after)
By Man Ray
Located in Southampton, NY
Héliogravure on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios, 1980. Published and printed ...
Category
1980s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Lithograph
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
"I Love You Anna" Photography 35.5" x 24" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"I Love You Anna" Photography 35.5" x 24" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Reaching for the stars - Black and white surrealist photography, Edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
A quiet interplay of light, shadow, and form, 'Reaching for the stars' captures a fleeting, dreamlike moment in surrealist composition. The softly illuminated hand reaches toward blu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Giclée
"Flight Risk" illustrative photography, surrealism, paper airplane motif
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Flight Risk" is a limited edition photographic print by Andrew Pinkham and is made from archival pigment on cotton rag. This piece measures 20"h x 20"w unframed an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Rag Paper, Archival Pigment
Man Ray, Composition, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios (after)
By Man Ray
Located in Southampton, NY
Héliogravure on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios, 1980. Published and printed ...
Category
1980s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Lithograph
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
TIE Fighter Beatles Large Oversize Pop Art Print Signed Limited Edition
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
TIE Fighter Beatles
by B A T I K
Pop art work featuring the Fab Four Paul McCartney , George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon running away from Star Wars TIE fighters chasing...
Category
2010s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Archival Pigment
Lucky, Color Photograph, Archival Pigment Ink Print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Lucky, 2023 is a recent archival pigment ink print by Maggie Taylor. All prints are signed and numbered by Maggie Taylor.
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterima...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bon Fire Night (Body Terrain) - In Celebration of Pride Month
Located in New Orleans, LA
Stone and Press Gallery is excited to offer several works in celebration of the LGBTQ community.
This is number 1 from a limited edition of 12.
London-based Photographer and Graphic designer Omer Ga'ash, graduated from Bezalel Academy...
Category
2010s Surrealist Photography
Materials
C Print
$321 Sale Price
28% Off
"Milk” Nude Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
By Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
"Milk” Nude Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag
Not framed. Ships in tube.
Brian Ziff is a multifaceted...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée
Army Of Caine Giant Oversize Pop Art Print Signed Limited Edition
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Army Of Caine
by B A T I K
Pop art work featuring multiples of Michael Caine in Get Carter mode - possibly his most iconic movie role.
Archival pigment pop art print signed & limi...
Category
2010s Surrealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Archival Pigment
"Six" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" inch Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Six" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" inch Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
A...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Imprint" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Imprint" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Available siz...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Real 2" Black & White Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Real 2" Black & White Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Surrealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist photography 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 photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, orange, purple and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mitchell Funk, Rosemary Ellis, Brian Ziff, and FPA Francis Pavy Artist. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Photographic Paper 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 photography, so small editions measuring 4.5 inches across are also available. Prices for photography 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 $110 and tops out at $28,800, while the average work sells for $1,750.