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Pedro Friedeberg Art

Mexican, b. 1936

The sculptor and painter Pedro Friedeberg works in a richly detailed, Surrealist and eccentric artistic style that blends influences from neoclassical art, M.C. Escher and native Mesoamerican symbolism. He is best known for his Hand chair — a functional sculpture that is an icon of design-as-art.

Friedeberg was born in Florence to German parents and moved with his mother to Mexico at the outset of World War II. As a university student in Mexico City in the 1950s, he initially studied architecture, but his designs for fantastical buildings ran afoul of his rationalist, Bauhaus-oriented teachers.

By chance, Friedeberg’s drawings came to the attention of Mathias Goeritz, the German-born Dadaist painter and sculptor. He encouraged Friedeberg and made him a protégé. Friedeberg credits his mentor for instilling in him a fanatical attention to detail in his work. Friedeberg produced his first Hand chair in 1961, and has since created numerous iterations. He has also made several variants using other human limbs in different functional forms such as tables and clocks.

While Friedeberg’s sculptures have a gentle character that is sometimes described as spiritual, his paintings and prints are something entirely different. He employs deep perspective to create hypnotic, painstakingly rendered canvases that suggest rooms and cityscapes.

Whatever the medium, Friedeberg’s work is arresting and instantly recognizable. The Hand chair, though familiar, remains a captivating piece — both furniture and artwork — that stands apart in any interior. Examples are often priced between $20,000 and $30,000, depending on formal variations (such as a foot-shaped pedestal), material and condition. Smaller functional items such as tabletop clocks bring about $9,000. His paintings and drawings require space; they are meant to be contemplated. Prices on original examples start at about $30,000; prints generally sell in the region of $900.

As you will see on 1stDibs, the art and design of Pedro Friedeberg is singular and memorable.

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Artist: Pedro Friedeberg
"Sanas distancias" Safe distances - figurative, hands, post COVID art
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
During the pandemic, the artist stayed for 4 months in Oaxaca on a beach called San Aguistinillo, where he developed the Sana Distancia (safe distance) c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Encuentro de Dos Mundos, Op Art Screenprint by Pedro Friedeberg
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Long Island City, NY
A serigraph print by Pedro Friedeberg from 1987. A optical abstract image of a surrealist interior. Artist: Pedro Friedeberg, Mexican (1936 - ) Title: Encuentro de dos Mundos Year:...
Category

1980s Op Art Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Screen

"Flash Solar" psychedelic, contemporary, surrealist, geometric forms, patterns
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Teatro Cósmico" psychedelic, contemporary, surrealist, geometric, cosmic
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Crepúsculo con molúsculo
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
"Crepúsculo con Molúsculo" es una pieza basada en una edición anterior realizada en 1984. Esta pieza está impresa en serigrafía sobre papel Cordenons 450 g color negro. La edición co...
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Screen

"Sanas distancias" Safe distances - figurative, hands, post COVID art
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
During the pandemic, the artist stayed for 4 months in Oaxaca on a beach called San Aguistinillo, where he developed the Sana Distancia (safe distance) collection, he created each da...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Mano" - Mini version of Hand Chair by Friedeberg, sculpture, tiffany
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
A new and exclusive version of the world-famous Hand Chair created in collaboration with Pedro Friedeberg's studio.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Silver

"Mano" - Mini version of Hand Chair by Friedeberg, sculpture, colored, black
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
A new and exclusive version of the world-famous Hand Chair created in collaboration with Pedro Friedeberg's studio.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Silver

Camino de la Virtud
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
El camino de la Virtud es una edición de serigrafía sobre papel Lana Feltmark 300g
Category

2010s Abstract Geometric Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Screen

Festival Piranesi
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Libro de artista impreso con tintas pigmentadas y barniz en serigrafía. Encuadernado tipo acordeón con doble vista
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital Pigment

"Tiempos fáciles" contemporary, surrealist, geometric forms, jaguars, patterns
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital, Ink

"Divagaciones espontáneas" Zebras and mexican pyramids surrealist print
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
During the pandemic, the artist stayed for 4 months in Oaxaca on a beach called San Aguistinillo, where he developed the Sana Distancia (safe distance) collection, he created each da...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Cotton, Ink, Paper

"CALMA" contemporary surrealist print with intricate colorful city landscape
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Dragones musicales I" contemporary surrealist dragons piano black and white
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital, Inkjet

"Estreno del cine Chapultepec" contemporary surrealist obelisks blue landscape
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Silver, Gold Leaf

"Changuitos en la ciudad" contemporary neo-barroque surrealist city with monkeys
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital, Ink, Parchment Paper

"Los pescadores de cacahuates" contemporary surrealist black engraving
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Ciudad de un millón" contemporary neobarroque arquitecture city blue landscape
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital, Paper, Ink, Screen

"P de Papagayo" contemporary surrealist letter P parrot colorfull engraving
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Engraving

"Herramientas y más" contemporary engraving surrealist tools objects
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Engraving

"Hotel Pierre" contemporary surrealist black and white sun and skulls engraving
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Engraving

"Dos elefantes" engraving surrealist figurative elephant infinite room
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Engraving

"Acupuntura Neoecléctica" contemporary figurative patterns human figure print
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital, Paper, Ink

"Dragones musicales II" contemporary surrealist print dragons black and white
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital, Inkjet

"C de Cabra" contemporary engraving surrealist goat
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Engraving

"Divagaciones espontáneas" contemporary screenprint surrealist zebra and pyramid
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
During the pandemic, the artist stayed for 4 months in Oaxaca on a beach called San Aguistinillo, where he developed the Sana Distancia (safe distance) collection, he created each da...
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Screen, Paper, Ink

"Vacunación univeresal" Universal vaccination - contemporary surrealist print
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is a radial artist who throughout his career has always been at the forefront, as in the Renaissance and pre-Raphaelite art of the 19th century...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Omniverso" Omniverse - contemporary, surrealist, graphic, geometric sun print
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The repetition of patterns and rhythm is present in almost every piece of Pedro´s work. The hybrid topographies that Pedro Friedeberg´s unclassifiable practice recreates we must rec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Digital

"Jaguares II" Jaguars, contemporary, surrealist print, nature, green, Friedeberg
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
This print is a series of 60, and it has a silver leaf on the moons. This edition is special in its color since the artist doesn't usually work with a green palette but this piece wa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf, Silver

"Cíclopes" Cyclops - surrealist geometric print, perspective, optic illusion
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the “ManoChair”: a sculpture/chair designed to sit on the palm, using the fingers as backrests and armrests. Friedeberg began to study architecture but did not finish his studies. He began to produce designs that went against the conventional forms of the 1950s, some as incredible as houses with artichoke roofs. His work caught the attention of Mathías Goeritz who encouraged him to continue his career as an artist. Friedeberg became part of a group of Mexican surrealist...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Hand Sculpture with Two Thumbs
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original Pedro Friedeberg Hand Sculpture with Two Thumbs sculpture.
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Serenata equinofrebígua II" Equinefebrifuge serenade, surrealist horses, zebras
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Silver

Wenn wir nicht haben was wir mögen
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Cotton, Paper, Screen

"Cats" - 2d surrealist print, black and white patterns, animals
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Paper, Cotton, Screen

"Ferretería canina II" Canine hardware - dogs, geometric print, 2d, gold leaf
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Elefantes III" elephants, surrealist, black and white pattern, gold leaf
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Triperio lunar I" Lunar triperium, geometric, cube perspective, black and white
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Paper, Cotton, Screen

City of a million with 25 boiled eggs
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Cotton, Paper, Digital

"Cromaticornios II" - surrealist pattern, unicorns, gold leaf, silver leaf
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Silver, Gold Leaf

"La nariz de Cleopatra" Cleopatra's nose - geometric, perspective, city
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Paper, Screen, Cotton

"Triperio lunar II" Lunar triperium, black and white, metalic, surrealist print
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Silver, Gold Leaf

I have been looking for you
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
In Pedro's artwork, you will continuously find perspective, this is because the artist studied 3 years of architecture. incomprehensive, magical, and surreal elements will be present...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard

Teatro Microbiotico, Geometric Op Art Screenprint by Pedro Friedeberg
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Long Island City, NY
A serigraph print by Pedro Friedeberg from 1987. A optical abstract image of a surrealist interior. Artist: Pedro Friedeberg, Mexican (1936 - ) Title: Teatro Microbiotico Year: 19...
Category

1980s Op Art Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Screen

Traducción Otomí o Churriazteca azul
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Pedro Friedeberg original print "Traducción Otomí Japonés". Signed and numbered by the artist. 65 x 54 in. image. 68 x 56 in. framed.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Canvas, Giclée

BANCA ZIGURATICA NINIVESCA DE 3 PLAZAS (SCULPTURE)
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Aventura, FL
Wood sculpture with gold color trim. Hand signed and numbered on the underside by the artist. From the edition of 4. Certificate of Authenticity is included. Artwork is in excellent condition. All reasonable offers will be considered. About the Artist: Pedro Friedeberg is a contemporary Mexican artist...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Wood

Gold Hand Chair
By Pedro Friedeberg
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 Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pair of Hand Chairs in black
By Pedro Friedeberg
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 as...
Category

1960s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Colesteroles Contra Triglirecidos
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original Pedro Friedeberg painting "Colesteroles Contra Triglirecidos". Signed by the artist. 29 ½ x 39 1/3 in. image size.
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Acrylic, Board, Ink

Butterfly Chair
By Pedro Friedeberg
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 Pedro Friedeberg Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pedro Friedeberg art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Pedro Friedeberg art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Pedro Friedeberg in fabric, screen print, cotton and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Pedro Friedeberg art, so small editions measuring 6 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Giorgio De Chirico, Leonard Baskin, and Rafał Olbiński. Pedro Friedeberg art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $960 and tops out at $50,000, while the average work can sell for $1,942.

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