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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
Surreal intimate scene, green and blue, boat and fashion magazine
Located in Carballo, ES
Ventura A. Pérez (1992) is one of the most seductive artists on the contemporary Spanish scene. After earning a doctorate in contemporary art from the University of Vigo, he moved to...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Kingfisher, 20th Century Magical Realism Landscape w/ Birds & Driftwood
Located in Beachwood, OH
Paul Riba (American, 1912-1977) Kingfisher Oil on board Signed lower right 20.75 x 35 inches 28.5 x 43.5 inches, framed Paul Riba was a painter of Magic Realism. He explored the un...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

watermelon print kitchen art
Located in Roma, GB
limited edition print on paper hand signed certificate of authenticity
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

C Print, Paper, Color, Digital, Laser

Surrealist Oil Painting Magical Realism Lionel Kalish Italian Home Fantasy Scene
Located in Surfside, FL
Lionel Kalish (American B.1931) "A Villa on the Sea", c. 1980 Oil on canvas Hand signed lower right L.Kalish Bark Frameworks Inc. N.Y. label verso 16" x 24" Lionel Kalish born...
Category

1980s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Love From 1970s - 21st Century, Surrealism, Figurative, Classical, African Man
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bor...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Fallen" (2017) By John Tarantola, Original Nude Oil Portrait Painting
Located in Denver, CO
John Tarantola's original nude portrait "Fallen" (2017) is a beautiful surrealist oil on panel painting that depicts an athletic nude male figure crawling forward weary through a des...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Huerta (Thrauco painting)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Carlos Ortuzar (Chilean, 1932-1985). Estaban Milla es Salvado de las Garras del Huecupor su Companero Lorenzo Huerta, ca. 1964. Oil on paper mounted to cradled masonite panel, 22 x 28.75 inches. Titled lower edge. Unsigned. Some loss of paint on the highest areas of protrusion. Corners show heavy wear will loss of paper ground. Provenance: Doyle Auctions; Couturier Gallery, Stamford CT. Carlos Ortúzar Worthington was born on March 17, 1935 in Santiago, Chile. He studied theater, law and philosophy. He entered the School of Fine Arts of the University of Chile in 1956, where he had as teachers Gustavo Carrasco, Marta Colvin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

"The Post-Truth Era: First Impact", Surrealist, Collage, Acrylic Painting, 2018
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “The Post-Truth Era: First Impact” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 20 x 16 x 1.5 inches in pinks, oranges, blues and whites. During the last decade, as the...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

"Studio Sketch of Alicia", Surrealist, Portrait, Collage, Acrylic Painting, 2020
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Studio Sketch of Alicia” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 20 x 16 inches in oranges, greys and pinks. Baker says, "I often sketch visitors to my studio tha...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Held Inside a Shaft of Light (Window, Skyscape, Warm, Dreamy, ~29% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Annieo Klaas Held Inside a Shaft of Light 2023 Oil on Canvas 40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 30.48 cm) Signed lower right COA provided *On stretcher frame - gallery wrapped - ready to hang ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

"Soft Lights" Heavy Textured Monterey California Seascape Original Oil on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
"Soft Lights" - Heavily Textured Monterey California Seascape in Oil on Canvas Textured impressionist seascape by Monterey, California artist Dick Crispo (American, b. 1945). The oc...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

"La Soledad / Robinson Crusoe" Contemporary Red Surrealistic Triangle Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Contemporary surrealistic figurative triangle painting by an artist named Zeus. The work features a realistically rendered male figure in robes reaching out towards a floating eyebal...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

October Dusk - Original Atmospheric Mountain Landscape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rob Katkowski’s original oil painting, October Dusk, is an atmospheric and contemplative work that captures the essence of twilight, blending symbolic abstraction with the quiet beau...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Thru an Open Window... I Saw You" (2012) By John Tarantola, Nude Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
John Tarantola's original nude portrait "Thru an Open Window... I Saw You" (2012) is a beautiful surrealist painting done with oil on panel, which depicts two nude male figures, one ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Goddess the Violinist and Swan
Located in Zofingen, AG
As the artist, I've poured my soul into this canvas, blending oils to evoke a sense of enigmatic allure and surreal wonder. With each stroke, I've strived to weave a narrative that t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Voyage en Céphalie" by Jean-Pierre BURQUIER - Oil on Canvas - 81x65 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Jean-Pierre Burquier is firstly painter and graphic artist. He creates surrealist paintings since he was 20 years. Following a chance meeting with an ostrich egg, he decided to move ...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Dream a Marcos, Figurative Surrealism, Original oil Painting
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ashot Yan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2018 Style: Portrait, Surrealism, Subject: The Dream a Marcos, Size: 19" x...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Micro Gestalt Series #3b
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Acrylic and ink on canvas.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Ink, Acrylic

20th Century Surrealist Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Beachwood, OH
Surrealist Landscape Oil on canvas 'R. Lee Glenn' verso 30 x 24.25 inches 31.75 x 26.75 inches, framed Surrealism aims to revolutionize human experience. It balances a rational visi...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Summer Warmth' Pink Flower Abstract
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting. Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

“Lavender breeze” landscape, botanical, naive art
Located in Oslo, NO
The “Lavender breeze” painting where the sky is awash in soft shades of gold as the sun begins to set on the horizon. The light is warm and gentle, casting a dreamy glow over an endl...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Jungle Struggle' Fantasy Abstract
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting. Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"The Second Coming" (2024) by Morgan Cameron, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Morgan Cameron’s (US based) “The Second Sighting” (2024) is an oil painting on panel that depicts a surreal landscape that has a wolf with piercing eyes standing in the moonlight. A...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Bright Green Garden' Fantasy Abstract
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting. Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Meditacion Kowa, Surrealist Acrylic on Canvas by Ivan Guayasamin
Located in Long Island City, NY
Ivan Guayasamin, Colombian - Meditacion Kowa, Year: 1998, Medium: Acrylic on on Unstretched Canvas, signed, Size: 56.5 x 69 in. (143.51 x 175.26 cm)
Category

1990s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Wrong Place Wrong Time (surreal painting monkey iceberg scale animal chimpanzee
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Rudolf Kosow’s Wrong Place, Wrong Time is a haunting surrealist composition that juxtaposes disparate elements to create an unsettling yet mesmerizing scene. A colossal chimpanzee, i...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Green with Envy, Hudson Vallery, NY
Located in Hudson, NY
"Clouds, from all sides now, 2025" Cohn delves into the enigmatic qualities of clouds—how they symbolize both the fleeting and the eternal. Cloud illusions are a sensory journey t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic

Antique American School Surreal Interior Scene Portrait Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American school surreal oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Measuring 30 by 35 inches overall and 25 by 30 painting alone.In excellent original condition. Handsomely fram...
Category

1930s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"A Broad Grin", Surrealist, Portrait, Man, Collage, Acrylic Painting, 2008
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “A Broad Grin” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 24 x 20 inches in greys, greens and blacks, with flesh tones. A broad grin has been defined as “one in which...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Desert Lost Heads – Framed Surrealist Landscape with Dog and Sculptural Elements
By Gozo
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Surrealist desert landscape with vivid sculptural heads and a solitary dog, framed within a painted wooden border conceived as part of the artwork. Desert Lost Heads is an original ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Spray Paint

Bulb of Africa 3
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Bulb of Africa was not just a hairstyle; it was a celebration of African heritage and a testament to the resilience of its people. Passed down through generations, it represented strength, beauty, and the rich tapestry of African traditions. The Bulb showcased the natural texture and volume of African hair, transforming it into an intricate masterpiece of braids, twists, and coils. The Bulb of Africa became a symbol of empowerment, reminding people of their strength, resilience, and the beauty of their shared heritage. It served as a reminder that hair was more than a physical attribute; it was a connection to something greater—a connection to their ancestors, their community, and celebrating the beauty within themselves. Beyond their physical beauty, African women possess an immeasurable inner strength that resonates through "Bulb of Africa." Odunayo masterfully captures this strength, highlighting the resilience and determination that have defined African women throughout history. The women depicted in the artwork emanate confidence, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. Their gaze speaks volumes, embodying the stories of countless African women who have overcome adversity, shattered barriers, and carved out their own paths to success. In "Bulb of Africa," Iyiola Odunayo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

"Salvador Dalí"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
I was inspired to paint this picture by girls. on a nudist beach, they froze on the mat. Like a city in the steppe. As a result, I met them, they became my muses, I repeatedly painte...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

DESNUDOS
By Jorge Tamayo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
JORGE TAMAYO "DESNUDOS" ARCYLIC ON CANVAS, SIGNED, TITLED COSTA RICA, DATED 2012 43 X 51 INCHES Jorge Tamayo Cabrera Tamayo was born in Ecuador in 1...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Antonio Monasterio – The Muses in the Blue Forest. No. 4
Located in Firenze, IT
Antonio Monasterio – The Muses in the Blue Forest
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Crayon, Wax Crayon, Pen, Color Pencil

Ancient Stock Route - original surrealism landscape painting - contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. "Ancient Stock Route" by George Callaghan is a mesmerizing jou...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"You Are Not Alone Anymore" - Oil Painting Featuring an Astronaut & Nude Figure
Located in Denver, CO
In "You Are Not Alone Anymore," Andreas Claussen's oil on canvas from 2023, measuring 35.43 x 47.24 x 1.18 inches, the artist masterfully intertwines surrealism with realism, challen...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Pansy Presence' Fantasy Abstract
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting. Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Destiny's Path, Hawaii - Surreal Mid Century Hawaiian Figurative Abstract
Located in Soquel, CA
Destiny's Path, Hawaii - Surreal Mid Century Hawaiian Figurative Abstract Symbolistic and romantic 1940s surreal figurative of pastel orange figure...
Category

1940s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Who? Why? What? - Original animal surrealistic painting-contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. Michael Abrams’ painting "Who? Why? What?" is a playful and en...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Armando Villagran Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Armando Villagran (Mexican, 1945-1995) Untitled (Figure with Animal), 1991 Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right Canvas: 55"h x 43.5"w, overall (with frame): 56"h x 44"w Born ...
Category

1990s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

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

surreal scene oil on canvas painting surrealism
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Francesc Gironés (1904-1997) - Surrealist scene - Oil canvas Oil measures 38x46 cm. Frame measures 47x55 cm. Francesc Gironés was a painter from Poblenou about whom little is known,...
Category

1980s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

banana print kitchen art
Located in Roma, GB
limited edition print on paper hand signed 25x35cm(40x50cm full size) Limited Edition, Hand Signed Certificate of Authenticity
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Paper, C Print, Color, Digital, Laser

The Three Graces - Original Surrealist On Board
Located in Soquel, CA
The Three Graces - Original Surrealist On Board Dramatic and dynamic fantasy scene by Russell R. Tripp (American, 1942-2025). This piece depicts a dream like scene with two nude wom...
Category

1980s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Pigging Out at the Diner, Surreal Anthropomorphic Pig Satirical Illustration
Located in Soquel, CA
A satirical, surreal depiction of a pig at a lunch counter by an unknown artist (20th Century). This scene, full of symbols and satire, portrays the anth...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Illustration Board

Floating Castle - Contemporary Surreal Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Fantastical surreal landscape with a floating castle in an idyllic, dream-like setting with bright blue sky and green grass by Melissa Barkley (Ameri...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Cardboard

Trophy, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, unique signed painting w/provenance
Located in New York, NY
David Humphrey Trophy (Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago), 1983 Oil on Canvas painting Signed Twice: Hand signed and dated verso, also artist has signed his name and written his ho...
Category

1980s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Soulcollector" By Mariska Karto, Original Surrealist Photography
Located in Denver, CO
"Soulcollector" is a striking gothic surrealist painting by acclaimed realist painter Mariska Karto, created with oil paint, photo paper, and an aluminum plate. Mariska was born i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Metal

"Blake of Night" (2012) By John Tarantola, Original Nude Oil Portrait Painting
Located in Denver, CO
John Tarantola's original nude portrait "Blake of Night" (2012) is a beautiful surrealist oil on panel painting that depicts an athletic nude male figure crawling forward on a slab o...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Pieta" (2021) By John Tarantola, Surrealistic Nude Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
John Tarantola's original nude portrait "Pieta" (2021) is a beautiful surrealist oil on panel painting that depicts two young athletic male figures atop a red cloth in vast desert du...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Acecho
By Gonzalo Morales
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oil on Canvas, Signed Dated 2013 14 x 18 Inches
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Modernist Period Male Nude Surrealist Masterpiece Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Amazing early American surrealist nude male portrait landscape. Painted by Charles W St Clair. Oil on board. Framed. Image size, 24L x 30H. Super detailed and rare!
Category

1930s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

At The Warehouse - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman, Dog
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Figurative Painting, "Whole" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
An original 10” x 12” x 1.5” Surrealist Acrylic Figurative Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or deliver...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Graphite

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Birds Circle Life
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, Archival Paper, Pen

"Honfleur Street" (2024) By Christopher Clark, Cityscape, Oil & Acrylic
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's "Honfleur Street" is an original, handmade oil & acrylic painting that depicts an abstracted cityscape bustling with people and the sun brightly reflecting off of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

The House at the End of the Road - Blue Original Floral Artwork on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s "The House at the End of the Road" is a striking blend of hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and imaginative narrative art. This 12-inch round acrylic p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

COMPANEROS
By Carlos Manuel Salazar Ramirez
Located in Los Angeles, CA
CARLOS MANUEL SALAZAR RAMIREZ "COMPANEROS" ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, SIGNED COSTA RICA, DATED 1989 16 X 24 INCHES Carlos Manuel Salazar Ramírez Born 1954 Ramírez is a artist born i...
Category

1980s Surrealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

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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