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
Kingfisher, 20th Century Magical Realism Landscape w/ Birds & Driftwood
By Paul Riba
Located in Beachwood, OH
Paul Riba (American, 1912-1977)
Kingfisher
Oil on board
Signed lower right
20.75 x 35 inches
28.5 x 43.5 inches, framed
Paul Riba was a painter of Magic Realism. He explored the un...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
"The Post-Truth Era: First Impact", Surrealist, Collage, Acrylic Painting, 2018
By John Baker
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “The Post-Truth Era: First Impact” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 20 x 16 x 1.5 inches in pinks, oranges, blues and whites. During the last decade, as the...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Love From 1970s - 21st Century, Surrealism, Figurative, Classical, African Man
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
About Artist
Bor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Held Inside a Shaft of Light (Window, Skyscape, Warm, Dreamy, ~29% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Annieo Klaas
Held Inside a Shaft of Light
2023
Oil on Canvas
40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 30.48 cm)
Signed lower right
COA provided
*On stretcher frame - gallery wrapped - ready to hang
...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
October Dusk - Original Atmospheric Mountain Landscape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rob Katkowski’s original oil painting, October Dusk, is an atmospheric and contemplative work that captures the essence of twilight, blending symbolic abstraction with the quiet beau...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Voyage en Céphalie" by Jean-Pierre BURQUIER - Oil on Canvas - 81x65 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Jean-Pierre Burquier is firstly painter and graphic artist. He creates surrealist paintings since he was 20 years.
Following a chance meeting with an ostrich egg, he decided to move ...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Thru an Open Window... I Saw You" (2012) By John Tarantola, Nude Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
John Tarantola's original nude portrait "Thru an Open Window... I Saw You" (2012) is a beautiful surrealist painting done with oil on panel, which depicts two nude male figures, one ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
The Dream a Marcos, Figurative Surrealism, Original oil Painting
By Ashot Yan
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ashot Yan
Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind
Medium: Oil on Linen,
Year: 2018
Style: Portrait, Surrealism,
Subject: The Dream a Marcos,
Size: 19" x...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"The Second Coming" (2024) by Morgan Cameron, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Morgan Cameron’s (US based) “The Second Sighting” (2024) is an oil painting on panel that depicts a surreal landscape that has a wolf with piercing eyes standing in the moonlight.
A...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Green with Envy, Hudson Vallery, NY
By Paddy Cohn
Located in Hudson, NY
"Clouds, from all sides now, 2025"
Cohn delves into the enigmatic qualities of clouds—how they symbolize both the fleeting and the eternal. Cloud illusions are a sensory journey t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Acrylic
Bulb of Africa 3
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Bulb of Africa was not just a hairstyle; it was a celebration of African heritage and a testament to the resilience of its people. Passed down through generations, it represented strength, beauty, and the rich tapestry of African traditions. The Bulb showcased the natural texture and volume of African hair, transforming it into an intricate masterpiece of braids, twists, and coils.
The Bulb of Africa became a symbol of empowerment, reminding people of their strength, resilience, and the beauty of their shared heritage. It served as a reminder that hair was more than a physical attribute; it was a connection to something greater—a connection to their ancestors, their community, and celebrating the beauty within themselves.
Beyond their physical beauty, African women possess an immeasurable inner strength that resonates through "Bulb of Africa." Odunayo masterfully captures this strength, highlighting the resilience and determination that have defined African women throughout history. The women depicted in the artwork emanate confidence, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. Their gaze speaks volumes, embodying the stories of countless African women who have overcome adversity, shattered barriers, and carved out their own paths to success. In "Bulb of Africa," Iyiola Odunayo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"Soft Lights" Heavy Textured Monterey California Seascape Original Oil on Canvas
By Dick Crispo
Located in Soquel, CA
"Soft Lights" - Heavily Textured Monterey California Seascape in Oil on Canvas
Textured impressionist seascape by Monterey, California artist Dick Crispo (American, b. 1945). The oc...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Joan Miró Litografia Original VII – 1972 Color Lithograph, Spanish Edition
By Joan Miró
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Litografia Original VII by Joan Miró, a 1972 color lithograph from Litografo (Volume I, Spanish edition), catalogued as Mourlot 863. Published by Ediciones Poligrafa, Barcelona, with...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Handmade Paper, Lithograph
At The Warehouse - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman, Dog
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
FREE Shipping Worldwide
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
The House at the End of the Road - Blue Original Floral Artwork on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s "The House at the End of the Road" is a striking blend of hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and imaginative narrative art. This 12-inch round acrylic p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Salvador Dalí"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
I was inspired to paint this picture by girls. on a nudist beach, they froze on the mat. Like a city in the steppe. As a result, I met them, they became my muses, I repeatedly painte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Bench in the Snow - Large Mid Century Modern Belgian Surreal Still Life Painting
Located in Sevenoaks, GB
A beautiful large 1964 Modern Belgian surreal oil on board depicting a bench in the snow, by Noëlle Verheggen.
The work signed and dated 1964 lower left presented in a painted wood...
Category
1960s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Just a Cloud Away
By Paddy Cohn
Located in Hudson, NY
"Clouds, from all sides now, 2025"
Cohn delves into the enigmatic qualities of clouds—how they symbolize both the fleeting and the eternal. Cloud illusions are a sensory journey t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Acrylic
10 Angry Men
Located in Zofingen, AG
I have sent my work to over 65 countries and some significant landmarks such as Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair, 5th Ave New York, Malibu beach in California Hong Kong, Monaco, M...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Summer Warmth' Pink Flower Abstract
By Elvic Steele
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting.
Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Goddess the Violinist and Swan
Located in Zofingen, AG
As the artist, I've poured my soul into this canvas, blending oils to evoke a sense of enigmatic allure and surreal wonder. With each stroke, I've strived to weave a narrative that t...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Trophy, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, unique signed painting w/provenance
Located in New York, NY
David Humphrey
Trophy (Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago), 1983
Oil on Canvas painting
Signed Twice: Hand signed and dated verso, also artist has signed his name and written his ho...
Category
1980s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"The Musicians" John Nathaniel Fenton, Magical Realist Oil on Canvas Painting
Located in New York, NY
John Nathaniel Fenton
The Musicians
Signed lower left
Oil on canvas
51 1/2 x 41 1/2 inches
John Nathaniel Fenton is a twentieth century American painter, printmaker and painter wh...
Category
1970s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Ancient Stock Route - original surrealism landscape painting - contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online."
"Ancient Stock Route" by George Callaghan is a mesmerizing j...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist 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 Paintings
Materials
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Jungle Struggle' Fantasy Abstract
By Elvic Steele
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting.
Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Meditacion Kowa, Surrealist Acrylic on Canvas by Ivan Guayasamin
Located in Long Island City, NY
Ivan Guayasamin, Colombian - Meditacion Kowa, Year: 1998, Medium: Acrylic on on Unstretched Canvas, signed, Size: 56.5 x 69 in. (143.51 x 175.26 cm)
Category
1990s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Ba Ba Ba Ma Tri dom
By Valton Tyler
Located in Dallas, TX
In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez writes of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined painti...
Category
1970s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Pansy Presence' Fantasy Abstract
By Elvic Steele
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting.
Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
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
Diana Bathing with Cupid Mid 20th Century French Surrealist Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Diana & Cupid
French Surrealist artist, mid 20th century
oil painting on board, unframed
board: 18 x 13 inches
provenance: private collection, Paris
condition: a few minor scuffs and...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
The Three Graces - Original Surrealist On Board
Located in Soquel, CA
The Three Graces - Original Surrealist On Board
Dramatic and dynamic fantasy scene by Russell R. Tripp (American, 1942-2025). This piece depicts a dream like scene with two nude wom...
Category
1980s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
surreal scene oil on canvas painting surrealism
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Francesc Gironés (1904-1997) - Surrealist scene - Oil canvas
Oil measures 38x46 cm.
Frame measures 47x55 cm.
Francesc Gironés was a painter from Poblenou about whom little is known,...
Category
1980s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
DESNUDOS
By Jorge Tamayo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
JORGE TAMAYO
"DESNUDOS"
ARCYLIC ON CANVAS, SIGNED, TITLED
COSTA RICA, DATED 2012
43 X 51 INCHES
Jorge Tamayo Cabrera
Tamayo was born in Ecuador in 1...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Pigging Out at the Diner, Surreal Anthropomorphic Pig Satirical Illustration
Located in Soquel, CA
A satirical, surreal depiction of a pig at a lunch counter by an unknown artist (20th Century). This scene, full of symbols and satire, portrays the anth...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Illustration Board, Oil
"The End of Our Season" (2024) by Morgan Cameron, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Morgan Cameron’s (US based) “The End of Our Season” (2024) is an oil painting on panel that depicts a surreal still life of a cart filled with broken and decaying jack-o-lanterns.
A...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"Here, There, and Everywhere" (2020) By John Tarantola, Nude Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
John Tarantola's original nude portrait "Here, There, and Everywhere" (2020) is a surrealist oil on panel painting that depicts an athletic nude male figure staring forward painted i...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Such a mess (egg yolk, vintage man, egg shell, burnt red sky, surreal, painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
This stunning oil painting depicts a man in vintage clothing standing somewhat perplexed in front of the strange sight of a giant broken egg shell with it's yolk content leaked on th...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Surrealist painting on board, bright colors and green shadows, diptych
Located in Carballo, ES
Ventura A. Pérez (1992) is one of the most seductive artists on the contemporary Spanish scene. After earning a doctorate in contemporary art from the University of Vigo, he moved to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Floating Castle - Contemporary Surreal Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Fantastical surreal landscape with a floating castle in an idyllic, dream-like setting with bright blue sky and green grass by Melissa Barkley (Ameri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Cardboard
Elephant
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Matheus is greatly influenced by the city he now calls home -- New York has long been the epicenter of fashion, hip hop, and street art, where he feels his interest in contemporary a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Five Red Tulips - Pink Original Floral Artwork on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s "The House at the End of the Road" is a striking blend of hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and imaginative narrative art. This 12-inch round acrylic p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Batmon
Located in Nottingham, GB
Original artwork, acrylic paints on canvas by Joseph Gilgun
With a mixture of street, abstract and fine art influences, most of Joe's work is created using a blend of acrylics, spra...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"Honfleur Street" (2024) By Christopher Clark, Cityscape, Oil & Acrylic
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's "Honfleur Street" is an original, handmade oil & acrylic painting that depicts an abstracted cityscape bustling with people and the sun brightly reflecting off of...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Joy Within -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Woman Fabric
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.
"JOY WITHIN" is...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Fabric, Canvas
Hopeful (black labrador, dog pet, woman, vintage, animal, surrealist painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
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 Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
You Broke My Heart
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I blend expressionism, surrealism, and symbolism to explore deep emotional narratives. The canvas features fragmented figures and abstract forms, evoking a sense of...
Category
1990s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Acrylic, Canvas
BREEZINESS. Original Painting by Stasy Vo
Located in Zofingen, AG
Imagine the warm smell of summer. Here you go to the park in a high mood. And there everything is in bloom, there are lovely flowers spread in the field, the sun is pleasantly warmin...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Surreal intimate scene, green and blue, boat and fashion magazine
Located in Carballo, ES
Ventura A. Pérez (1992) is one of the most seductive artists on the contemporary Spanish scene. After earning a doctorate in contemporary art from the University of Vigo, he moved to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
'Story Time', Paris, Salon d'Automne, New York, ASL, Corcoran, PAFA, Art Deco
By Nura Ulreich
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower left 'Nura' for Nura Woodson Ulreich (American, 1899–1950). Additionally signed, verso, dated March 1928 with artist's New York City ...
Category
1920s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Illustration Board
Antonio Monasterio – The Muses in the Blue Forest. No. 4
Located in Firenze, IT
Antonio Monasterio – The Muses in the Blue Forest
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Paper, Crayon, Wax Crayon, Pen, Color Pencil
"Hemerocallis III" (2022) by Sybiline, Oil Painting, Pink & White Day Lily
Located in Denver, CO
Sybiline's (CAN based) "Hemerocallis III" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a pink and white day lily.
About the Artist:
Sybiline is a Canadian artis...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Jardin Fantastique
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork. titled "Jardin Fantastique" c.1990, is an oil painting on canvas by noted Haitian surrealist artist Murat Saint Vil, b.1955. It is signed at the lower left corner by th...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil
Heinrich Richter "#50", 1969
Located in Washington, DC
Oil on canvas painting by Heinrich Richter (German/Polish, 1920-2007). Painting is titled #50, signed and dated 1969. Heinrich Richter has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in ...
Category
1960s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Hemerocallis II" (2022) by Sybiline, Oil Painting, Pink Day Lily
Located in Denver, CO
Sybiline's (CAN based) "Hemerocallis I" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a pink day lily.
About the Artist:
Sybiline is a Canadian artist based in Q...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Surreal Full Moon Hawaii Cliff House Nocturnal Hawaiian 1940s Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Surreal Full Moon Hawaii Cliff House Nocturnal Hawaiian 1940s Landscape
Symbolic and surreal mid century nocturnal landscape of a lone house on a s...
Category
1940s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Acecho
By Gonzalo Morales
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oil on Canvas, Signed
Dated 2013
14 x 18 Inches
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Entrance and Exit" - Oil on Canvas Symbolic Surrealist Painting 2015
Located in Denver, CO
Vachagan Narazyan’s Entrance and Exit (2015) is an original oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the artist’s poetic and allegorical approach to spatial imagery. The composition c...
Category
2010s Surrealist Paintings
Materials
Canvas, 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.