Surrealist Art
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
Surrealist composition
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: collotype (after the Miro lithograph). Printed in 1947 in an edition of 1500 by Meriden Gravure and published by Curt Valentin for "The Prints of Joan Miro" portfolio. Size: ...
Category
1940s Surrealist Art
Materials
Photogravure
"The Embrace" Original Surreal Watercolor & Ink Drawing by Walter Schnackenberg
Located in Chicago, IL
Walter Schnackenberg’s style changed several times during his long and successful career. Having studied in Munich, the artist traveled often to Paris where he fell under the spell o...
Category
1940s Surrealist Art
Materials
Ink, Watercolor
Maldoror : Surrealist Fight - Original etching, HANDSIGNED (Field #34-2)
Located in Paris, FR
Salvador Dali
The Fight, 1975
Original etching
Signed in pencil
Limited to 100 copies (Here numbered 52)
On Arches vellum 32.5 x 25 cm (c. 12.7 x 9.8 in)
REFERENCES :
- Catalog ...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Engraving
Surrealist composition
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: collotype (after the Miro lithograph). Printed in 1947 in an edition of 1500 by Meriden Gravure and published by Curt Valentin for "The Prints of Joan Miro" portfolio. Size: ...
Category
1940s Surrealist Art
Materials
Photogravure
Surrealist composition
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: collotype (after the Miro lithograph). Printed in 1947 in an edition of 1500 by Meriden Gravure and published by Curt Valentin for "The Prints of Joan Miro" portfolio. Size: ...
Category
1940s Surrealist Art
Materials
Photogravure
Surrealist composition
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: collotype (after the Miro lithograph). Printed in 1947 in an edition of 1500 by Meriden Gravure and published by Curt Valentin for "The Prints of Joan Miro" portfolio. Size: ...
Category
1940s Surrealist Art
Materials
Photogravure
Extremely rare 2-sided lithographic announcement to Galerie Maeght vernissage
By Joan Miró
Located in New York, NY
Joan Miró
Extremely rare 2-sided lithographic announcement to Galerie Maeght vernissage, 1953
2 sided Lithographic invitation (header image shows both front and back on one panel)
Un...
Category
1950s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
"Hope : Between Earth and Heaven" Surrealist Acrylic on Canvas by Eugene Hawkins
Located in Pasadena, CA
In the "Fantasy/Metaphysical" series by American artist Eugene Hawkins, the convergence of surrealism and metaphysics unfolds as an exploration of existential themes common to all. C...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
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 Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Maldoror : Allegory of Time & Aging - Original Etching, HANDSIGNED (Field #34-2)
Located in Paris, FR
Salvador Dali
Allegory of time and aging, 1975
Original etching
Signed in pencil
Limited to 100 copies (Here numbered 52)
On Arches vellum 32.5 x 25 cm (c. 12.7 x 9.8 in)
REFERE...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Engraving
Surrealist Watercolour/Gouache on Paper. 'The Birth of Sculpture''
Located in Cotignac, FR
Late 20th century surrealist gouache and watercolour on paper by British artist Derek Carruthers. The painting is signed to the bottom right and title...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Surrealist Gouache on Paper, 'Threshold or Pagans'.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Contemporary surrealist watercolour and gouache on paper by British artist Derek Carruthers. Signed bottom right.
An intriguing and beautifully pain...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper, Gouache
JEREMY GEDDES - EDIFICE, Limited Surrealism Rocket Australian Artist Modern
Located in Madrid, Madrid
JEREMY GEDDES - EDIFICE
Date of creation: 2023
Medium: Giclée on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper
Edition: 549
Size: 61 x 81 cm
Condition: In mint conditions, brand new and never framed
G...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper, Giclée, Digital Pigment
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Sailor" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 10.5” x 16.5” x 2.5” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
The ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Lloyd" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 10” x 12” x 1” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
Mothboy: W...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Lily" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 9” x 14” x 1” Surrealism Acrylic Portrait Painting executed by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
“T...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting, "Iris" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 7” x 10” x 1” Magical Realism Acrylic Portrait Painting executed on Vellum by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase o...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic, Vellum
Magic Realism Figurative Artwork, "The Air On A G String" by Evgeniya Golik
Located in San Diego, CA
A 20.5” x 16.5" x 1.5" Magic Realism Figurative Artwork by artist Evgeniya Golik. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
Evgeniya Gol...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Ink, Color Pencil
Vitraux in Four Sheets Puzzle of Life
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali
TITLE: Vitraux in Four Sheets Puzzle of Life
MEDIUM: 4 Lithographs
SIGNED: 1 Lithograph is Hand Signed by Salvador Dali
EDITION NUMBER: 1 lithograph is num...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Sculpture Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media sculpture by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame. Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artists su...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
Man with Trousers
By Arthur Tress
Located in London, GB
Silver gelatin print, 19cm x 19cm (print size), (50cm x 40cm in mount), unframed, but contained within archive quality mount.
Tress is one of the most renowned and innovative photographers of his generation. Citing his influences as Hokusai, Frank Lloyd Wright, Picasso, El Lissitzky, Duane Michaels...
Category
1980s Surrealist Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Sculpture Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media sculpture by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame. Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artists su...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Collage Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media collage on paper by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame.
Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for art...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Paper, Mixed Media
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Charlie" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 9” x 12” x 2” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
The Human C...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Wild Encounters-original abstract surreal wildlife oil painting-modern art
By Nathan Neven
Located in London, Chelsea
This original artwork by Nathan Neven joyfully presents an unusual scene of wildlife merged with a grand interior space. The artist adds contemporary touches to his subject matter su...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Surrealist Mixed Media Portrait, "'Prince' The Guide" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 16” x 16” x 2” Surrealist Mixed Media Portrait Painting executed on Wood Panel with Acrylic and Graphite by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic, Graphite
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Sculpture Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media sculpture by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame. Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artists su...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Oil Painting American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media collage on canvas by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame.
Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for ar...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Oil
Surrealist acrylic on board painting surrealism picasso style
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gustavo Úbeda (1930-1994) - Surrealism - Acrylic panel
Acrylic measurements 80x100 cm.
Frameless.
The painting by Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, 1930 – Sao Paulo, 1994) comes from ...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic, Board
Mixed Media Surrealist Portrait, "Mad Barber" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 13” x 15” x 2” Surrealist Mixed Media Portrait Painting executed on Wood Panel by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
“The Mad Barber is not quite ‘mad’ in the conventional sense, but rather exhibits a peculiar imbalance. With an eccentric flair reminiscent of characters like Sweeney Todd...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic, Wood Panel, Graphite
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Sculpture Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media sculpture by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame. Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artists su...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Timmy" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 12” x 14” x 1.5” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
“The Boy In The Iron Mask...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Sculpture Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media sculpture by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame. Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artists su...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
The forgotten
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Surreal figurative painting. An insect man in slow metamorphosis who lives in a world inaccessible to us, in a parallel reality that is forbidden to us. A magical place where there i...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Marlowe" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 14” x 16” x 1” Magical Realism Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
The L...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Oil Painting American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media collage on canvas by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame.
Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for ar...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Oil
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Sculpture Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media sculpture by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame. Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artists su...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Sculpture Found-Object American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media sculpture by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame.
Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artists su...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
Boy and puppy
Located in Belgrade, MT
Madeline Luka (French 1894-1989) was a self taught painter known for her landscapes, portraits, nudes and still lifes. She typically portrayed her family and close friends set within...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Oil Painting American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media object collage by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame.
Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for artis...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Mixed Media
Surreal Contemporary Figurative Mixed-Media Oil Painting American
Located in Buffalo, NY
One of a kind mixed-media collage on canvas by Philip Kuznicki from the Spirit exhibition. Comes in its original frame.
Born in Dunkirk NY, Kuznicki started his career working for ar...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Oil
René Magritte - LE CHEF D'OEUVRE OU... Limited Surrealism French Contemporary
Located in Madrid, Madrid
René Magritte - LE CHEF D'OEUVRE OU LES MYSTÈRES DE L'HORIZON, 1965
Date of creation: 2010
Medium: Lithograph on BFK Rives Paper
Edition number: 131/275
Size: 60 x 45 cm
Condition: N...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Cid" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 8” x 11” x 2” Surrealism Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
Carnivale’s...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Clark" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 8.5” x 11.5” x 2” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery.
“Gopher...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
Once In A Lifetime
By David Najar
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Once In A Lifetime" c. 2000 is a giclee print by noted Israeli artist David Najar, born 1962. It is hand signed and numbered P....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Giclée
Tauramachie Surrealiste The Giraffe on Fire
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali
TITLE: Tauramachie Surrealiste The Giraffe on Fire
MEDIUM: Etching
SIGNED: Hand Signed
EDITION NUMBER: LXIV/C
MEASUREMENTS: 20" x 26"
YEAR: 1970
FRAMED...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Etching
Man Ray, Échiquier Surréaliste: 1934/1991, Silver Gelatin Print, Dada
By Man Ray
Located in Hamburg, DE
Man Ray (1890-1976)
Échiquier Surréaliste (Surrealist Checkerboard), 1934/1991
Medium: Silver Gelatin Print (later print)
Dimensions: 30.5 x 23.7 cm
Stamped: "Copie d'une épreuve...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting, "Mr.P" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 12” x 19” x 5” Magical Realism Acrylic Portrait Painting executed on Vellum with Found Objects by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Found Objects, Acrylic, Vellum
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 Art
Materials
Acrylic, Graphite
Under The Blue Umbrella
Located in London, GB
Silkscreen print. Produced in 2016, pressed on heavy quality stock paper. This series is limited to 50 pieces. Hand signed and numbered by Mehdi.
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Screen
René Magritte - LE BEAU MONDE- Limited Lithograph Surrealism French Contemporary
Located in Madrid, Madrid
René Magritte - LE BEAU MONDE, 1962 (THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD)
Date of creation: 2010
Medium: Lithograph on BFK Rives Paper
Edition number: 154/275
Size: 60 x 45 cm
Condition: In very goo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper, Lithograph
'On Voit cette Reine...' Colour Lithograph from ‘L’Arte d’Aimer d’Ovide’
Located in Toronto, CA
Artist proof from Salvador Dalí's series of prints 'L'Art d'Aimer d'Ovide' published in 1978 in Paris. Signed on the plate and in pencil on the paper with handwritten edition number ...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Nancy Baker, Alien Nation , 2010, Oil on board, Surrealist Landscape
By Nancy Baker
Located in Darien, CT
These paintings reflect the love Nancy Baker has for combining classical imagery with an image that is strange. The most direct
example is in Alien Nation where i have a potter at a ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil, Board
Surrealist Hound
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Amazing surrealist painting by Italian artist Nuccio Fontanella (1936-2005). Ink and watercolor on cold pressed illustration board. Image measures 13 x 18 inches; 20 x 25 inches fram...
Category
1980s Surrealist Art
Materials
Ink, Illustration Board, Watercolor
Worldview, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The composition weaves elements of nature and psychology with paint and twigs forming a nest. A collage of hand-painted maps decorating the surface of the eggs....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Surrealist Pop Culture Colored Drawing, "Oh, Edward" by Evgeniya Golik
Located in San Diego, CA
A 15” x 12” Surrealist Pop Culture Figurative Colored Drawing with White Ink by artist Evgeniya Golik. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or del...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Ink, Color Pencil
René Magritte - DÉCALCOMANIE, 1966 Limited ed. Lithograph. Surrealism French
Located in Madrid, Madrid
René Magritte - DÉCALCOMANIE, 1966 (DECALCOMANIA)
Date of creation: 2010
Medium: Lithograph on BFK Rives Paper
Edition number: 141/275
Size: 60 x 45 cm
Condition: In mint conditions...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper, Lithograph
Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting, "Opium" by Evgeniya Golik
Located in San Diego, CA
A 18” x 22” x .75" Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting executed on Canvas with Gold Leaf by artist Evgeniya Golik. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its pu...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Surrealist art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist art 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 art 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, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, and Leonor Fini. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Lithograph 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 art, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for art 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 $1,450,000, while the average work sells for $1,426.
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