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Surrealist Sculptures

145 Results
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
Spatial Light
Spatial Light

Spatial Light

By Agustín Cárdenas

Located in Miami, FL

Agustin Cardenas Spatial Light, 1989 Bronce II of III 23 x 11 x 5 in Cárdenas was a descendant of african slaves from Senegal and Congo. He was born in Matanzas, a major export port for the sugar industry. Cárdenas studied under Juan José Sicre, in Cuba, and from 1943 to 1949 at la Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes “San Alejandro” in Havana. He was a member of the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba (AGC) from 1951 to 1955. Also he was a member of the creative group Los Once from 1953 to 1955. Cárdenas' work was exhibited several times in 1952 "Pintura Ávila Escultura Cárdenas" at the Palacio de los Trabajadores in Havana, and in 1955 he exhibited a selection of his pieces in "Agustín Cárdenas...

Category

20th Century Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Birds  2009, painted porcelain plate, diam. 20.5 cm
Birds  2009, painted porcelain plate, diam. 20.5 cm

Birds 2009, painted porcelain plate, diam. 20.5 cm

By Ieva Liepina

Located in Riga, LV

Birds 2009, painted porcelain plate, diam. 20.5 cm The central focus of the plate is the depiction of two birds surrounded by blooming flowers. The artist has skillfully painted the birds, capturing their graceful forms and vibrant colors. The flowers add a touch of beauty and provide a visually appealing backdrop for the avian subjects. The combination of birds, blooming flowers, and the mysterious...

Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Water  2009, painted porcelain plate, 39х19х2.5 cm
Water  2009, painted porcelain plate, 39х19х2.5 cm

Water 2009, painted porcelain plate, 39х19х2.5 cm

By Ieva Liepina

Located in Riga, LV

Water 2009, painted porcelain plate, 39х19х2.5 cm Water is a captivating and evocative painted porcelain plate. It combines artistic craftsmanship, a romantic theme, and the allure ...

Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Four Surrealist Figures, Unique Painted Wood Mini Folding Screen ca 1970
Four Surrealist Figures, Unique Painted Wood Mini Folding Screen ca 1970

Four Surrealist Figures, Unique Painted Wood Mini Folding Screen ca 1970

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 Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Paint

"Mindful" Unique Surrealist Sculpture - steel, cast concrete, glass, paint 2017
"Mindful" Unique Surrealist Sculpture - steel, cast concrete, glass, paint 2017

"Mindful" Unique Surrealist Sculpture - steel, cast concrete, glass, paint 2017

Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA

“Mindful” 2017 A unique, surrealist sculpture made from fabricated steel, glass, cast concrete, yellow glass & paint. 28 h x 33 w x 14 d (inches) Signed Provenance: The collection of the artist Born in Jamaica, West Indies, and raised in Rochester, New York, Earl James...

Category

2010s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Concrete, Steel

"Man in Green Shirt, " Acrylic on Ceramic
"Man in Green Shirt, " Acrylic on Ceramic

"Man in Green Shirt, " Acrylic on Ceramic

By Allan Winkler 1

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 Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Acrylic

Gutsy
Gutsy

Gutsy

By Megan Dune

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This vivid and sticking surrealist wall sculpture by artist Megan Dune was created with acrylic, glitter, thread and fabric on canvas and paper mache. Wha...

Category

2010s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Fabric, Canvas, Thread, Glitter, Acrylic

Drool
Drool

Drool

By Megan Dune

Located in West Hollywood, CA

"Drool" is a surrealist and brightly colored wall installation by artist Megan Dune, constructed with acrylic, colored pencil, paper, glitter, thread, foil ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Foil

Loner

Loner

By Dionisios Fragias

Located in New York, NY

Dionisios Fragias is a New York -based artist born on the Greek island of Kefalonia and raised in New York City. He is the protege of the artist Jeff Koons whose years-long mentorshi...

Category

2010s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

LIMBO
LIMBO

LIMBO

By Nora Chavooshian

Located in New York, NY

LIMBO, 2021, cast forton, acrylic paint, cotton threading, 24 x 20 x 16 inches. The ornate and sensual contours of Nora Chavooshian’s sculptures deri...

Category

2010s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Yarn, Acrylic

Shadow: After the Egyptian, Bronze Sculpture by David Cregeen
Shadow: After the Egyptian, Bronze Sculpture by David Cregeen

Shadow: After the Egyptian, Bronze Sculpture by David Cregeen

By David Cregeen

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: David Cregeen, British (1945 - ) Title: Shadow: After the Egyptian Year: circa 1985 Medium: Bronze Sculpture with Patina, signature inscribed Edition: 5 Size: 48.5 x 13.5 x ...

Category

1980s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Gem

Dionisios FragiasGem, 2011

Price Upon Request

Gem

By Dionisios Fragias

Located in New York, NY

Dionisios Fragias is a New York -based artist born on the Greek island of Kefalonia and raised in New York City. He is the protege of the artist Jeff Koons whose years-long mentorshi...

Category

2010s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

Bust of John F. Kennedy
Bust of John F. Kennedy

Bust of John F. Kennedy

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Long Island City, NY

This iconoclastic sculpture links two of the twentieth century’s most renowned figures: President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Salvador Dalí. Cast in wax and decorated with paperclips...

Category

1960s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Centaur, Outdoor Sculpture by Ernst Neizvestny
Centaur, Outdoor Sculpture by Ernst Neizvestny

Centaur, Outdoor Sculpture by Ernst Neizvestny

By Ernst Neizvestny

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Ernst Neizvestny, Russian (1926 - 2016) Title: Centaur Year: 1973-89 Medium: Bronze Sculpture, signature and numbering inscribed Edition: 7 Size: 84 x 65 x 36 in. (213.36 x 1...

Category

1970s Surrealist Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Surrealist sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist 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 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, blue, 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 sculptures, so small editions measuring 2 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $3,000.