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Surrealist Animal 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
Night Crossing - Model Pirate Ship and Constellations, Oil on Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
A model pirate ship dominates the geometric backdrop of this perplexing painting titled, "Night Crossing." Constellations painted on the tiled surface suggest the ship is headed on a journey to be guided by star-filled sky above. Notions of voyage and conquest come to mind, but the boat is moored to its wooden base, dashing any hopes for adventure. The painting is framed in a simple walnut stained wooden frame measuring 25.25 x 21.25 inches. John Hrehov Night Crossing, 2022 oil on canvas on panel 24h x 20w in 60.96h x 50.80w cm JHR009 John Hrehov Education 1985 MFA-Painting, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1981 BFA-Painting, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH. Solo Exhibitions 2017 John Hrehov, Paintings and Drawings. Tom Thomas Gallery, Indiana University East, Richmond, IN. 2012 Shades from White to Black, New Drawings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 2011 John Hrehov: Charcoal. Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. 2009 John Hrehov: A Survey 1999-2009 Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. Paintings and Drawings. Seerveld Gallery, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL. 2004 John Hrehov: Drawings and Paintings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 2002 Paintings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 2001 Charcoal. Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. John Hrehov, Paintings and Drawings. Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL. 2000 The Picture Proper. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. Fearful Symmetry. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN. Allegories in Contemporary Life. Yvonne Rapp Gallery, Louisville, KY. 1999 Paintings and Working Drawings. Adams Hall Gallery, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. 1998 John Hrehov. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. John Hrehov: Paintings and Drawings. Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL. 1997 Object Lesson, Paintings, and Drawings by John Hrehov. Yvonne Rapp Gallery, Louisville, KY. 1995 John Hrehov. Trinity Art Gallery, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL. 1993 John Hrehov: Selected Works 1980-1992 Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. Group Exhibitions 2019 2019 Alumni Exhibition. Reinberger Gallery at The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH. Out Of The Closet. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 1026 West Berry Street: The Fort Wayne Art School. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN. 2018 Artlink Regional Exhibition. Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN. 2017 Sola Grace-Faith-Scripture: An Exhibition of Sacred Visual Art. Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. Norman Bradley...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Five Bird Rule, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Five birds gather around three women as fish float behind them. An upside-down umbrella perched on a railing heightens the scene’s surreal quality. In this pi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Doberman & Gramophone. Oil on canvas, 90X90 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Doberman & Gramophone. Oil on canvas, 90X90 cm The artist Vadim Kovalev was born in 1968 in the capital of Latvia, Riga, where he is also presently living and creating his works. W...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Hopeful (black labrador, dog pet, woman, vintage, animal, surrealist painting)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In this moving piece by Rudolf Kosow, the canvas captures a tender and intimate moment between species. The focus is a deeply expressive black dog, portrayed with a level of detail t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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 takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Illustration Board

Bull, the Dog
Located in East Hampton, NY
Bull dog in a suit Animals dressed up fantasy, surreal Comes ROLLED in a tube Needs framing Artist Y.m.Lo is known for his Wheat Pasted Animals in proper ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Phenomenon II (oil painting surrealist cat paws men vintage clothing nostalgia)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
People encounter a domestic animal that is commonplace and familiar, but the disproportionate scale creates fascination, fright and this perspective renders the human speechless. Similar to the satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels", people are confronted with an inexplicable encounter and do not know how to react to it. Is the situation perplexing because a dog is huge, just taking a nap and does not notice the people around it, or are humans too tiny and do not recognize their "absurd" existence? keywords; surrealism, animals, cat, oil painting, earth tones, figurative painting, strangeness, contemporary surrealistic, unsettling, contemporary figurative painting, dreams, symbolic composition, cat paw
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Janet and Bill, Surrealist Painting of Woman and Cat w/ Party Hats
Located in Beachwood, OH
Mary Spain (American, 1934–1983) Janet and Bill, 1970s Oil on canvas Signed middle right, titled verso 26 x 30 inches 32.5 x 36.5 inches, framed Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spai...
Category

1970s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Frida Fish" Contemporary Surrealist Jewel Toned Tropical Ocean Life Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Colorful, jewel toned painting by contemporary artist Henry David Potwin. The work features a surreal depiction of a tropical fish with the face o...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

9 of Pentacles, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The artwork depicts the Nine of Pentacles card, symbolizing rapidly growing success, incoming financial satisfaction, and wealth. White bison figures represen...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Confused Flamingo
Located in Kingston, WA
Here we have a very confused flamingo that thought following the gulf stream would lead him to the Gulf of Mexico, sadly mistaken, ended up in the Lofoten islands, an archipelago off...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Birds of Prey
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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen

Cooped Up, colorful painting of cats and birds in birdcage
Located in Brooklyn, NY
colorful surrealist narrative of cats *ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American School Surreal Monkey Portrait Rare Framed Large Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist interior scene with two monkeys. Oil on canvas. No signature found. Framed. Image size, 39H x 26L.
Category

1930s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Best Friends I (spaniel puppy dog ear surreal scale animal boy farm earth tones
Located in Quebec, Quebec
We love Rudolf's latest series and particularly this exquisite demonstration of TLC in "Best Friends". The artist says "Two inseparable friends, regardless of the size differences, t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original-Breakfast with Cat-Oil on canvas-British Awarded Artist-English Roses
Located in London, GB
-In light of new tariffs, we’ve applied a 20% discount off the market price of this piece to support our collectors in facing potential added costs. At the gallery, we work closely w...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Golden Lady - original wildlife interior Leopard contemporary oil painting- art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. "Golden Lady" by Nathan Neven is an enchanting piece that capt...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

HERMIT (chimpanzee monkey drifting iceberg Arctic blue surrealist oil painting)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In HERMIT, a lone chimpanzee clings to a jagged iceberg, its dark fur stark against the vast expanse of ice and water. Its expression is pensive, almost melancholic, as if caught bet...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Night Crossing - Model Pirate Ship and Constellations, Oil on Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
A model pirate ship dominates the geometric backdrop of this perplexing painting titled, "Night Crossing." Constellations painted on the tiled surface suggest the ship is headed on a journey to be guided by star-filled sky above. Notions of voyage and conquest come to mind, but the boat is moored to its wooden base, dashing any hopes for adventure. The painting is framed in a simple walnut stained wooden frame measuring 25.25 x 21.25 inches. John Hrehov Night Crossing, 2022 oil on canvas on panel 24h x 20w in 60.96h x 50.80w cm JHR009 John Hrehov Education 1985 MFA-Painting, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1981 BFA-Painting, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH. Solo Exhibitions 2017 John Hrehov, Paintings and Drawings. Tom Thomas Gallery, Indiana University East, Richmond, IN. 2012 Shades from White to Black, New Drawings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 2011 John Hrehov: Charcoal. Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. 2009 John Hrehov: A Survey 1999-2009 Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. Paintings and Drawings. Seerveld Gallery, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL. 2004 John Hrehov: Drawings and Paintings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 2002 Paintings. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 2001 Charcoal. Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. John Hrehov, Paintings and Drawings. Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL. 2000 The Picture Proper. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. Fearful Symmetry. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN. Allegories in Contemporary Life. Yvonne Rapp Gallery, Louisville, KY. 1999 Paintings and Working Drawings. Adams Hall Gallery, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. 1998 John Hrehov. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. John Hrehov: Paintings and Drawings. Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL. 1997 Object Lesson, Paintings, and Drawings by John Hrehov. Yvonne Rapp Gallery, Louisville, KY. 1995 John Hrehov. Trinity Art Gallery, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL. 1993 John Hrehov: Selected Works 1980-1992 Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. Group Exhibitions 2019 2019 Alumni Exhibition. Reinberger Gallery at The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH. Out Of The Closet. Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY. 1026 West Berry Street: The Fort Wayne Art School. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN. 2018 Artlink Regional Exhibition. Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN. 2017 Sola Grace-Faith-Scripture: An Exhibition of Sacred Visual Art. Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. Norman Bradley...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Flock of Seagulls - British 60's Surrealist art oil painting birds in flight
By Stuart Maxwell Armfield
Located in London, GB
A superb, detailed and meticulous egg tempera oil on panel from around 1960 by Stuart Maxwell Armfield. The painting depicts a flock of seagulls in a bold, strong and surreal colouri...
Category

1960s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Egg Tempera

REBEL (black pug carlin cowboys lasso vintage americana surrealist oil painting)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
A colossal black pug, its head resting heavily on the ground, gazes outward with an expression both sorrowful and unyielding. Its vast, glossy eyes shimmer w...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Runaway (Dalmatian dog surrealist oil painting man's best friend animal)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
A colossal Dalmatian rests its head on a stark white surface, its weary gaze conveying quiet resignation. In front of it, a lone figure stands, gripping a “STOP POLICE” sign...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Defender (dog, hunter, pet black Lab, man, animal, surrealist painting, american
Located in Quebec, Quebec
This poignant painting by Rudolf Kosow presents us with a remarkable visual allegory rich with surrealistic influences. The canvas is occupied by a colossal, detailed black labrador ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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 takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Circle of 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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

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 takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Shy (Lab pet dog, girl, Child, vintage dress, animal, surrealist oil painting
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Shy," a tender and evocative work by Rudolf Kosow, portrays an encounter that is wrapped in quietude and gentle introspection. A sizable, soulful-eyed dog fills the canvas, its gaze...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Toast To Celebrate - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women, Love, Drinks
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 Oluw...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Blue Birds
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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Parting (pet dog, bulldog, cowboy, animal portrait art, surrealist oil painting)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Parting," a surrealistic painting by Rudolf Kosow, masterfully employs scale to create a poignant narrative of farewell. The canvas is dominated by the face of a bulldog, each hair and whisker intricately detailed, exuding a warmth and expressiveness that captures the essence of the breed. The bulldog's large, soulful eye, reflecting a quiet resignation, suggests an awareness of an impending separation. Perched thoughtfully on the dog's snout, a diminutive figure of a man wearing a cowboy hat sits, his posture one of contemplative sorrow. The man dangles his legs over the edge of the snout, a symbol of the precipice between companionship and the solitude of parting. Kosow's work deeply explores the themes of connection and departure. The intimate positioning of the man against the vastness of the dog's facial landscape evokes the shared history and emotional bond between human and animal. The painting's title, "Parting," may imply an imminent physical separation, yet the closeness of the two subjects suggests an unbreakable emotional tie that distance cannot sever. In this piece, Kosow invites the viewer to consider the bittersweet moments of goodbye that are an intrinsic part of life's journey, highlighting the enduring nature of love that remains through any farewell. "Parting" is a testament to the poignant beauty found in the strength of connections that transcend the constraints of size and species. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sweet Sounds (cat, feline, lady, flute, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Sweet Sounds," a mesmerizing painting by Rudolf Kosow, depicts a tranquil scene of harmony between a young girl and a slumbering cat. The girl, seated and playing an instrument, see...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Best Friends II (dog man's best friend vintage painting figurative earth tones)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In "Best Friends", the painter suggests the idea of a giant pet dog remaining reliable and comforting for the man, regardless of his giant-size. keywords; surrealism, animals, dog, ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

10 of Pentacles, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The artwork portrays the Ten of Pentacles card, symbolizing success, financial satisfaction, and the completion of a wealth cycle. White bison figures, repres...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Circle Life Orange
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 takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Astrology Fantasy - "A Love by the Stars" - Sci-Fi Alignment of the Planets
Located in Miami, FL
Hane paints a dreamy nocturne - a fusion of earthy and celestial bodies with circling birds around a central vertical axis. Created on assignment for De Beers' highly published A Diamond is Forever" campaign. "A love by the stars was important. Until the right man of the wrong sign put his star on my finger. And I entered his house with my love. The artist created the painting to be the night ... so it appears a little dark in natural light. Best viewed with a top and key light to bring out the colors. For example if you bring the painting outside on a bright day.. the colors will pop. If you view inside of a dark hallway.. it will look sombre with less detail. Again, it's a nocturne. Hane painted the covers of the Collier-Macmillan editions of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia books, as well as such Simon & Schuster publications as Carlos Castaneda's The Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality. In 1963, Hane was hired to do a full-page illustration for Esquire magazine; he moved to New York in 1965. He married Elaine Miller...
Category

1970s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Circle of 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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Last Hit (surreal painting golf player vintage blue Grey golf course)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Rudolf Kosow’s Last Hit presents a striking surrealist vision, blending elements of vintage Americana with an eerie sense of absence. The golfer, depicted in muted monochrome tones w...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cuddly (black old dog, snout, lady, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Cuddly," a charming painting by Rudolf Kosow, depicts a tender and affectionate moment between a dog and its human companion. The dog’s face, with soulful eyes and a furrowed brow, is portrayed in stunning detail, conveying a sense of gentle wisdom and patience. A small lady figure, fitting perfectly within the curve of the dog's face, leans in close, as if finding comfort and protection in the animal’s embrace. The gesture of the figure, with a hand delicately placed, highlights the trust and love inherent in this bond. This piece beautifully encapsulates the warmth and security that pets provide. Kosow's artwork celebrates the simple, heartwarming connections that form the cornerstone of our relationships with our animal friends, reminding us of the comfort and joy found in their company. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Circle Life Orange
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 takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Vagabond (labrador retriever pet dog surrealism animal neutral tones)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Please note, the whites areas in the painting are trully white as opposed to bluey as shown in the pictures. Painting is signed at the front. COA provided keywords; surrealism, humo...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Protectress II
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Protectress" by Rudolf Kosow is a compelling oil painting that uses surrealism to explore themes of guardianship and scale. In this striking work, a colossal Doberman sits attentive...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Humble Abode" by Patrick Maxcy, Acrylic Painting, Sea Turtle
Located in Denver, CO
Patrick Maxcy's "Humble Abode" is an original, handmade acrylic painting that depicts a sea turtle perched on coral carrying an elaborate tiny house on his back with a cloudy sky. T...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Incident II (horse leg hoof equestrian man surrealistic animal tennis brown art)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
A surreal vertical oil painting titled Incident by Rudolf Kosow depicts an immense, detailed black horse's hoof dominating the majority of the composition, set against a muted, textured background. At the bottom right, a small man...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Case II
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In "Case", banal, everyday things meet in this painting to create an unusual, strange, absurd and ironical situation derived by the disproportional scale size of things. Rudolf Kos...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Scale Surrealist Oil on Canvas, 'At the Watering Hole'.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Large late 20th century oil on canvas of animals at the watering hole by British artist Derek Carruthers. Signed to the bottom right. A magical, highly colourful and energetic paint...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Large Scale Surrealist Oil on Canvas, 'Noah's Ark and the Animals'.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Very large scale late 20th century oil on canvas of Noah's Ark and the Animals by British artist Derek Carruthers. Signed to the bottom right. A magical, highly colourful and energe...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Think Piece, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Stacked like rocks on the shore, artist Diane Flick plays with scale, color, texture, and joyful imagery—creating a quirky, awkward, and jovial childlike ba...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Silu Niu Animal Original Acrylic On Canvas "Waitting - Blue"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Waitting - Blue Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 39 x 31 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This pai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Patiently Waiting 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Black Woman, Love
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 Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

9 of Pentacles, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The artwork depicts the Nine of Pentacles card, symbolizing rapidly growing success, incoming financial satisfaction, and wealth. White bison figures represen...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Investigation II
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In "Investigation II", banal, everyday things meet in this painting to create an unusual, strange, absurd and ironical situation derived by the disproportional scale size of things. ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Portrait of a Horse (Pool with Two Figures)" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Shelli Langdale's "Portrait of a Horse (Pool with Two Figures)" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a white horse standing at the ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Large Russian Israeli Fantastic Realism Surrealist Oil Painting Girl with Swan
Located in Surfside, FL
Rina Sutzkever Calderon (Russian/Israeli, b. 1945), Fly Away Oil on canvas, signed at lower left, presented in a gilt frame with linen liner. Frame dimensions 56 x 46 in. Rina Sut...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Soulmates (brown pet dog, lady, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Soulmates," a poignant work by Rudolf Kosow, tenderly illustrates the profound bond shared between a dog and a human. In this intimate portrayal, the dog's gaze is imbued with an emotional depth that transcends the boundaries between species. Its eyes, rendered with striking clarity, convey a world of understanding and companionship. The lady, is nestled against the dog's face in a pose that suggests a mutual trust and shared existence. This closeness speaks to a relationship that goes beyond the conventional pet-owner dynamic, hinting at a deeper, spiritual connection—a true meeting of souls. In Kosow's vision, the concept of soulmates expands, encompassing the idea that our most understanding and compassionate partners may not be human at all. The painting's title, "Soulmates," encapsulates the notion that kindred spirits are connected not by words, but by the heart and soul, through gestures of love and moments of silent understanding. With "Soulmates," Kosow invites us to contemplate the essence of connection and the forms it can take. It's a celebration of the unspoken bond that animals and humans can share, an acknowledgment that the purest forms of love and understanding sometimes require no language. This piece serves as a beautiful reminder of the loyalty, comfort, and unconditional acceptance that define the most precious of life's relationships. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Owner (black Lab dog, sleeping lady, vintage dress, animal, surrealist painting)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In "Owner," Rudolf Kosow captures a tender moment of connection that is as powerful as it is subtle. The main subject of the painting is a large black Lab, soulful dog, its fur textu...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Signed Surreal Southwest Modernist Desert Cactus Original Vintage Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist surreal landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1940. Signed. Unframed. Image size, 28"L x 20"H.
Category

1950s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Muddle. Composition with violins and seagull. 2014. Oil on canvas, 100x80 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Muddle. 2014. Oil on canvas, 100x80 cm The artist Vadim Kovalev was born in 1968 in the capital of Latvia, Riga, where he is also presently living and creating his works. When Vad...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Gloomy (pet english bulldog dog surrealism animal men neutral tones)
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Please note, the whites areas in the painting are trully white as opposed to bluey as shown in the pictures. Painting is signed at the front. COA provided keywords; surrealism, humo...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Urban Zoo" Oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Louis Recchia's (US based) "Urban Zoo" is an oil painting that depicts a lama, giraffes, and a whale in a surreal urban environment Louis Recchia has been producing contemporary ar...
Category

2010s Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lever, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A man and a woman press against a tree while a ram charges towards it. This surreal encounter represents the idea of trying to complete a task and meeting res...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist animal paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist animal 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 animal 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, green, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Nathan Neven, Rudolf Kosow, Linda Ridd Herzog, and Isabel Rock. 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 animal paintings, so small editions measuring 2.76 inches across are also available. Prices for animal 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 $190 and tops out at $50,000, while the average work sells for $2,313.

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