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Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

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:  Brown
Red Starfish - ceramic tile - 1954
Located in Paris, FR
Salvador DALI (after) Red Starfish Handpainted ceramic tile Signed in the pattern 8 x 8" (20x20cm) Edited in 1954 by Maurice Duchin and hand crafted in atelier MPG under the control...
Category

1950s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Pablo Picasso Terracotta Fish Pitcher Madoura Pottery Sujet Poisson France 1952
Located in Portland, OR
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), terracotta fish pitcher. Madoura pottery 1952. This original terracotta fish pitcher was created by Picasso in 1952 and was ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

SHARK PEOPLE
Located in Aberdeen Dyce, GB
Astian Rey "SHARK PEOPLE"
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Enamel

When Farm Dogs Dream
Located in Loveland, CO
When Farm Dogs Dream... by Gary Alsum Whimsical Bronze on Walnut Base Sheep Dogs take over an old Chevy truck filled with sheep, a different sort of herding. License Plate says "BAAA...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Rhinoceros - Pate de verre sculpture, Signed - Daum 1972
Located in Paris, FR
Salvador Dali (1904-1989) and Daum Rhinoceros (Chippendale Rhinocerotype) Original two-tone yellow and opalescent brown pate de verre Edited and handcrafted by the Daum crystal glas...
Category

1960s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Hit and Run
Located in Loveland, CO
Hit and Run by Gary Alsum Figurative bronze sculpture 33x12x20" ed/49 Fly Fisherman casting (The fly rod unscrews for shipping, artwork will be foam-in-place custom packed) ABOUT THE ARTIST: Taking the knowledge passed on from artists such as Fritz White, Glenna Goodacre...
Category

1990s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Granite, Bronze

Vivat LVII
Located in Loveland, CO
Viva la LVII (Long Live the '57) by Gary Alsum Bronze 6.5" x 12.5" x 6" ed/75, number 1 in stock Shipping price includes the custom packing necessary for fine art. A new body of wor...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Surrealist Figurative Sculpture, "Siren"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original surrealist figurative sculpture made from wood by San Diego artist, Debbie Korbel. Its dimensions are 72" x 66" x 42". A...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Driftwood

Felicor, Terracotta Wall Sculpture by Roberto Matta
Located in Long Island City, NY
Felicor by Roberto Matta, Chilean (1911–2002) Terracotta Wall Plaque, signature inscribed, numbered in ink Edition of 49/150 Size: 15 x 12.75 x 2.25 in. (38.1 x 32.39 x 5.72 cm) Fram...
Category

1980s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

"Man with Cup, " Ceramic Figure
Located in Chicago, IL
Although this whimsical sculpture by Allan Winkler has the look of outsider art, this ceramic work stems from the art school-trained artist’s interest in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Acrylic

"Lady in a Striped Dress, " Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Although this whimsical sculpture by Allan Winkler has the look of outsider art, this ceramic work stems from the art school-trained artist’s interest in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Glaze, Ceramic

Gold Hand Chair
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Pedro Friedeberg Gold Hand Chair. Gold leaf over wood. Signed inside the base. Includes certificate of authenticity signed by the artist. Available a...
Category

1960s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Alpha Dogs
Located in Loveland, CO
Alpha Dogs by Gary Alsum Bronze car driven by dogs ​4x7x5" ed/75 #1 available Shipping price includes the custom packing necessary for fine art. A new body of work that takes on a ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Party Animals
Located in Loveland, CO
Party Animals by Gary Alsum Bronze 8x12x8" ed/75 #2 available Dogs take over a classic VW bug in this playful composition. Green and multi-brown patina, l...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Chasing Butterflies
Located in Loveland, CO
Chasing Butterflies by Gary Alsum 8x17x11" ed/75 #3 available Bronze car driven by dogs -'58 corvette Details include a custom plate that says "Lv D Vet" Shipping price includes the ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Butterfly Chair
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Pedro Friedeberg Butterfly Chair. Gold leaf, Ink and acrylic over wood. Signed by the artist. Includes certificate of authenticity.
Category

1960s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Four Surrealist Skeletal Figures Unique Painted Mini Folding Screen
Located in Long Island City, NY
A very cool and stylish mini folding screen of carved figures hand painted by an unknown artist. It is likely from around 1970, the figures are a bit surrealist and match in a stiff ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Paint, Wood

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Surrealist figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist figurative sculptures 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 sculptures created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of purple, green and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Salvador Dalí, (after) Salvador Dali, David Barnett, and Gary Alsum. Frequently made by artists working with Metal, and Ceramic 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 sculptures, so small editions measuring 2 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative sculptures 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 $273 and tops out at $250,000, while the average work sells for $3,400.

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