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
"Eating at the Airline Diner", surrealist, red, blue, yellow, acrylic painting
By John Baker
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Eating at the Airline Diner” is an acrylic on canvas with collage 30 x 30 inches in reds, yellows and blues with green accents. The iconic diner, in Queens, New York, i...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Mixed Media, Canvas
Pig in space
Located in London, GB
From glorious observations of the everyday to the surreal, Julie Fleming-Williams’ work is as eclectic as it is engaging. Julie has exhibited at the Royal Academy and her paintings h...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Board, Oil
"Keep the Fire Alive" - Oil Painting Astronaut with Flame
Located in Denver, CO
"Keep the Fire Alive," an evocative piece from Andreas Claussen's 'FLOOD' series, is a 2023 oil on canvas that elegantly captures the essence of determination against a serene, wintr...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Untitled, Tinga tinga, African art, Figurative art, Surrealism
Located in Milano, IT
Mohamed Charinda
Senza Titolo
2000s
Acrylic on Canvas
Canvas measurements: 92.5 x 76.5 cm
Frame size: 90 x 74.5 x 3 cm
Signed lower left "Charinda"; Signature on verso inverted "Cha...
Category
Early 2000s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Untitled, Tanzania, African Art, Figurative Art, Surrealism
Located in Milano, IT
Acrylic on canvas by Mikidadi Bush, signed and dated on the front.
Bush's work deals with themes related to animist culture, creating visions that combine dreamlike and ordinary atmo...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
needle in the eye, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
a painterly exercise designated to bitterly fight ill-received ideas. :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Jungle again, Painting, Acrylic on Wood Panel
By Diana Rosa
Located in Yardley, PA
original acrylic paint on wooden panel, new work since 7 November, 2022, ready to hang :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sign...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Surrealist carnival acrylic on board painting surrealism Ubeda
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gustavo Úbeda (1930-1994) - Carnival - Acrylic on panel
Acrylic measurements 61x91 cm.
Frameless.
The painting by Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, 1930 – Sao Paulo, 1994) comes from ...
Category
1970s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Board
Kyle Andrew Szpyrka - Honesty, Drawing 2014
Located in Greenwich, CT
The Paths series was born out of a trip I took one summer to LA. The trip itself was more of an escape from my life in New York. At the time I was at a crossroads. Having just gone t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paper, Graphite
Kyle Andrew Szpyrka - Where Have You Been, Where Are You Going?, Drawing 2014
Located in Greenwich, CT
The Paths series was born out of a trip I took one summer to LA. The trip itself was more of an escape from my life in New York. At the time I was at a crossroads. Having just gone t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paper, Graphite
Kyle Andrew Szpyrka - Don't You Recognize Me?, Drawing 2014
Located in Greenwich, CT
The Paths series was born out of a trip I took one summer to LA. The trip itself was more of an escape from my life in New York. At the time I was at a crossroads. Having just gone t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paper, Graphite
Kyle Andrew Szpyrka - Babel, Drawing 2014
Located in Greenwich, CT
Sutra, a Sanskrit word meaning “thread”, is a word or small group of words that summarize an entire complex web of ideas, truths, wisdoms, or teachings all woven together into a sing...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paper, Graphite
"Man Adjusting his Tie", surrealist, green, red, blue, yellow, acrylic painting
By John Baker
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Man Adjusting his Tie” is an acrylic painting on canvas 24 x 18 inches in greens and reds with blue and yellow color accents. The disheveled appearance of the man impli...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
The Ephemeral Embrace
Located in PUIFLIJK, NL
Francien Krieg is a Dutch painter and AI artist who has made a name for herself by painting older naked women. Her artwork is recognized for its unique celebration of the female form...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
"The Lonely Crowd", surrealist, portrait, mixed media, acrylic painting
By John Baker
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “The Lonely Crowd” is a multi-colored acrylic painting on canvas with collage 40 x 60 inches. Blues, yellows and greens predominate while reds provide color accents. The...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
In the eyes of the beholder
Located in Zofingen, AG
In the eyes of the beholder " is a still life with an apple in the style of symbolism.
Oil painting by Lilia Volskaya. Size: 50x40cm.
Frame size: 55x45cm.
Each of us is faced with ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Self Chaperone", surrealist, woman, portrait, mixed media, acrylic painting
By John Baker
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Self-Chaperone” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 28 x 22 inches in flesh tones, yellows and greys. The portrait depicts the inner conflict between uninhibi...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Motherhood: Contemporary Surrealist Oil Painting by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Motherhood is a self portrait of Sax Berlin’s experience as a single father. He had to be mother and father at a time when he was aggrieved after his beautiful wife Susan’s passing ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Hompage Magritte, Called Woman Seen From Behind, Original Gouache
Located in Stockholm, SE
This gouache painting by Ulf Linde, a multifaceted Swedish figure, presents a unique portrayal of a woman seen from behind, set against a blue and white...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Gouache, Board
Spring Garden
Located in Zofingen, AG
Spring Garden" landscape in the style of Paul Cezanne. Impressionism" original oil painting by Volskya Lilya
Magical iridescence of colors on canvas.
For...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Cardboard, Cotton Canvas, Canvas
"Dreams on a moonlit night. " Original Oil Painting by Lilia Volskaya
Located in Zofingen, AG
The paintings are drawn with oil on the canvas with stretcher
Dreams on a moonlit night. A fantasy landscape in the naiv style. Wonderful, happy moments in life when you don't want ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Lacquer, Oil, Canvas
Nietzsche Forever Young, w/ Turin Horse in Elysium, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Diana Heit
Located in Yardley, PA
“Man is the cruelest animal," says Zarathustra. "When gazing at tragedies, bull-fights, crucifixations he hath hitherto felt happier than at any other time on Earth. And when he in...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
'No Paradise Without Food': Astronaut on Inflatable Pig Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Andreas Claussen's 2023 masterpiece "There Is No Paradise Without Food," a significant work from his acclaimed 'FLOOD' series, is a compelling oil on canvas that stretches over dimen...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Diver" Contemporary Figurative Surrealist Portrait painting
Located in East Quogue, NY
"Diver" - Surrealist portrait painting of a female emerging from the water with a pearl on her tongue by Paul Green. Acrylic on panel. Signed on back by art...
Category
1990s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Wood Panel
"Axe, Tree, Raft. That’s a Plan" - Oil Painting Astronaut Floating in Water
Located in Denver, CO
Andreas Claussen's "Axe, Tree, Raft. That’s a Plan," is a 2023 oil on canvas from the compelling 'FLOOD' series, with dimensions of 23.62 x 31.50 x 0.79 inches. This painting thought...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Surrealist still-life acrylic on board painting surrealism Ubeda
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gustavo Úbeda (1930-1994) - Still life - Acrylic panel
Acrylic measurements 61x91 cm.
Frameless.
The painting by Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, 1930 – Sao Paulo, 1994) comes from a...
Category
1970s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Board
Paisaje. Acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Agudo Clará, Ignacio (Zaragoza 1880 – Ibiza 1966) ARTS On May 25, 1936, he married the painter Pura Ortí and with her and her family, he moved to Ibiza, facing the imminent Civil War...
Category
1940s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Tour through the universe", 2022. Fantastic Realism painting golden
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
A tour of the universe, a visit to another invisible world where you can live in peace. The beloved animals and us united in one life. "Around the universe” Figurative Painting 51" x...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Acrylic
Bold Eagle And Figurative Abstraction
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Bold Eagle And Figurative Abstraction
Artist signed lower right corner, : 54 X 68 X 1.25 in.
Yankel (Jacob) Ginzburg (Russian/American, Born 1945). An original Surrealist acrylic pa...
Category
1980s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Cotton Canvas
ShaoHua Nong Surrealist Original Oil On Canvas "Light And Shade"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Light And Shade
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 12 x 16 inches
Frame: Framing options available!
Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition.
Note: This painting ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Floating in a Surrealist Space - Abstract Composition in Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
Floating in a Surrealist Space - Abstract Composition in Acrylic on Canvas
Surrealist composition by California and Washington state artist David Sherburne (American, b. 1943). A fl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Boats in the harbor, Original Painting by Federico Castellon, Spanish Surrealist
Located in PARIS, FR
This oil on paper piece by Federico Castellón exhibits the hallmarks of his artistic style, blending elements of surrealism with a striking, yet subtle, realism. The composition is r...
Category
1950s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Laid Paper
YiJian Wang Surrealist Original Oil On Canvas "Caprice 2"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Caprice 2
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 15.5 x 11.5 inches
Frame: Framing options available!
Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition.
Note: This painting is unstretched
Year: 2015
Artist: YiJian Wang...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Mountaintop
Located in New York, NY
The Mountaintop, 1997
Oil on canvas
54 x 68 in. (137.2 x 172.7 cm)
Signed, titled, and dated, verso
At the heart of Bousfield's work lies a lyrical celebration of color and tactile ...
Category
1990s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Lovescape
Located in New York, NY
Lovescape, 1999
Acrylic on canvas
46 x 64 in. (116.8 x 162.6 cm)
Signed, titled, and dated, verso
At the heart of Bousfield's work lies a lyrical celebration of color and tactile se...
Category
1990s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Bearing the Light
Located in New York, NY
Bearing the Light, 1994
Oil on linen
46 x 48 in. (116.8 x 121.9 cm)
Signed, titled, and dated, verso
At the heart of Bousfield's work lies a lyrical celebration of color and tactile...
Category
1990s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
Samba
By Rob Brooks
Located in Edgartown, MA
From an incandescent sunset on Long Island Sound to an iconic pop-kitsch ice storage bin at the neighborhood corner store, Rob Brooks offers us a visual journey from the real ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Surrealist Painting, "After the Rains"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil on panel surrealist painting by San Diego artist, Kelley Sutphin. Its dimensions are 14.4"x26.4"x1.5". It is framed. A certificate of authenticit...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Yves Bady AL-Dahdah (Lebanese 1941) Lady of the Vines, 1981, Surrealist Painting
Located in Meinisberg, CH
Yves Bady AL-Dahdah
(Lebanese, 1942)
Lady of the Vines
• Oil or Acrylic on heavy fibre board ca. 46 x 38 cm x 0.5 cm
• Signed and dated lower left (19)81
•...
Category
1980s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paint, Fiberboard
Yves Bady AL-Dahdah (Lebanese 1941) Lady of the Moon, 1981, Surrealist Painting
Located in Meinisberg, CH
Yves Bady AL-Dahdah
(Lebanese, 1942)
Lady of the Moon
• Oil or Acrylic on heavy fiber board ca. 46 x 38 cm x 0.5 cm
• Signed and dated lower left (19)81
• ...
Category
1980s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paint, Fiberboard
"Plutonium Messenger" Symbolic Visionary Art in Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
"Plutonium Messenger" Symbolic Visionary Art in Acrylic on Canvas
Detailed symbolic work by Dana Lynn Andersen (American, b. 1962). This piece is a stylized version of the astrologi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Glitter, Acrylic
"Enchanting" a surreal and realist portrait of a woman with a floral headdress
Located in Edgartown, MA
“Since I was young, I have loved nature – the trees, flowers, and butterflies. Growing up in Phoenix, AZ these things were not around and so I began to paint the world in which I wan...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Pantheum Moonlight, Early 20th century surrealist landscape, Cleveland School
Located in Beachwood, OH
Ferdinand Burgdorff (American, 1881-1975)
Pantheum Moonlight, 1916
Oil on canvas
Signed and dated lower right
16 x 24 inches
21.5 x 29.5 inches, framed
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Ferd...
Category
1910s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
C. Ballester Sueño Original Surrealism Mixed media paper painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Sueño Original Magical Surrealism Mixed media paper painting. virtual frame
Cándido Ballester is a contemporary Mallorcan painter who was born in 1926. As a child he had to emigrate...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Mixed Media, Acrylic
Books and Flowers-original surreal still life-interior-seascape oil painting-Art
By Luis Fuentes
Located in London, Chelsea
"Books and Flowers" by Luis Fuentes beckons admirers into a world where surrealism and realism seamlessly converge, creating an original interior still life-seascape painting that is...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Pool, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This is purely a surreal painting, without the symbolism that is often the case in my work, but purely surreal images of beauty and calm straight from the subconscious. The water ref...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Happiness - Contemporary Acrylic on Canvas Painting, Vibrant colors, Landscape
Located in Warsaw, PL
ABOUT THE ARTIST
MARTA RYNKIEWICZ is a Polish contemporary artist (born in 1983).
She studied painting with Professor Henryk Czenik and graphic arts with Professor Jerzy Krechowic...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Goldfish XXXVI, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
A continuation of my Goldfish paintings. Here two surreal balloons float over a mountainous landscape, I've tried to capture lightness and air in the...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Murdered doll acrylic on board painting surrealism Ubeda
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gustavo Úbeda (1930-1994) - Murdered doll - Acrylic panel
Acrylic measurements 61x91 cm.
Frameless.
The painting by Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, 1930 – Sao Paulo, 1994) comes fro...
Category
1970s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Board, Oil
Surrealist scene Brazil acrylic on board painting geometric
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gustavo Úbeda (1930-1994) - Surrealist scene, Brazil - Acrylic on panel
Oil measures 60x42 cm.
Frameless.
The painting by Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, 1930 – Sao Paulo, 1994) com...
Category
1970s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Board
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
A Surreal Encaustic on Wood "Northeast Pacific Dreams"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original encaustic mixed media artwork by Tiffany Bociek. Its dimensions are 8 x 10 x 1 in. A certificate of authenticity will follow delivery.
Created thr...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Gold
Subterfuge, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Craig Moran
Located in Yardley, PA
It has makings of A jigsaw feel. And the shapes Are anonymous. :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: R...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Earthly Flavors, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel
By Craig Moran
Located in Yardley, PA
Earthly Flavors is one of the twenty-odd pieces I did while participating in Palette 22 Restaurant's artist-in-residence program. Amorphous islands of yellow, pink and blue dominate ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Rise, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Craig Moran
Located in Yardley, PA
A circus of sorts Anonymous performers Reaching for the sky :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Ferjo - Surrealist Interior - Signed Oil on Canvas
By Ferjo
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
FERJO
Intérieur surréaliste
Signed Oil on Canvas
51 x 61 cm
Ferjo, Brazilian (1946 - )
Ferjo
Technical achievements in art not only in painting...
Category
1990s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Encaustic on Wood "Of All The Lace and Shiny Things, My Path Lay Darker Still"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original encaustic mixed media artwork by Tiffany Bociek. Its dimensions are 14 x 12.6 x 2 in. A certificate of authenticity wil...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
A Surreal Encaustic on Wood "Call and Response"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original encaustic mixed media artwork by Tiffany Bociek. Its dimensions are 11.5 x 11.5 x 2 in. A certificate of authenticity w...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paper, Encaustic, Oil
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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