Surrealist artists, ranked

86 Famous Surrealist Artists: The Definitive Ranking

The most famous Surrealist artist is Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), known for The Broken Column and Viva la Vida. Next come Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, René Magritte and Max Ernst. This ranking of the 86 most famous Surrealist artists runs from Pierre Roy (born 1880) to George Condo (born 1957), across 40 countries.

How this list is ranked. Artists whose works our catalogue files under Surrealist, in the order of our fame ranking of artists. Artists without a Wikidata identifier born after 1955 are left out until verified. The Wikipedia figure next to each name is the number of our 32 languages in which Wikipedia has an article on the artist.

  1. The Broken Column by Frida Kahlo1Frida Kahlo
  2. Rainy Taxi (Mannequin Rotting in a Taxi-Cab) by Salvador Dalí2Salvador Dalí
  3. The Farmer's Wife by Joan Miró3Joan Miró

The essentials

Surrealist at a glance

  • 86Artists
  • 1880–1957Years of birth
  • 40Countries of birth
  • 20Women
  • 11Living artists
  • 8.974Works in our catalogue
Cities with most births
Buenos Aires (3), Rom (2), Nantes (2), Coyoacán (1)
Museums holding the most key works
MoMA - Museum of Modern Art (6), Israel Museum (6), Metropolitan Museum of Art (4), Walker Art Gallery (3)

Ranked, with their masterpieces

The ranking: 86 Surrealist Artists and their key works

1of 86

Frida Kahlo

Mexicansk Born in Coyoacán Surrealisme, mexicansk folkekunst, realisme Wikipedia in 32/32 languages

Frida Kahlo

Coyoacán i Mexico City danner rammen om fødslen af Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón den 6. juli 1907. I 1922 begynder hun på National Preparatory School i Mexico City, hvor hun er en af kun femogtredive kvindelige studerende på institutionen. I 1929 indgår Frida Kahlo ægteskab med den mexicanske muralist Diego Rivera.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

3of 86

Joan Miró

Spansk Born in Barcelona ['Surrealisme', 'Fauvisme', 'Ekspressionisme'] Wikipedia in 32/32 languages

Joan Miró

Mens han studerer forretningsforhold, tilmelder han sig samtidig kunstundervisning ved Escuela Superior de Artes Industriales y Bellas Artes. Hans formelle uddannelse uddybes mellem 1912 og 1915, hvor han studerer under Francesc Galí ved Escola d’Art. Denne forbindelse til jorden intensiveres i 1924 med The Tilled Field, hvor grænserne mellem den fysiske verden og det underbevidste begynder at udviskes.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

4of 86

René Magritte

Belgisk Born in Lessines Surrealisme Wikipedia in 32/32 languages

René Magritte

Da René Magritte blev født den 21. november 1898 i Lessines, Belgien, trådte han ind i en verden præget af sin families stille flid. Hans formelle uddannelse tog for alvor fart på Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts i Bruxelles, hvor han studerede fra 1916 til 1918. I byens caféer og atelierer fandt han et fællesskab af ligesindede tænkere og knyttede bånd til skikkelser som André Breton, Paul Éluard og Salvador Dalí.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

5of 86

Max Ernst

Tysk Born in Brühl ['Dada', 'Surrealisme'] Wikipedia in 30/32 languages

Max Ernst

Max Ernst trådte ind i verden den 2. april 1891 i Brühl, Tyskland. Omkring 1909, mens han var studerende ved universitetet i Bonn, begyndte Max Ernst at male. Mødet med værkerne fra Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh og Paul Gauguin ændrede hans perspektiv fundamentalt.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

6of 86

Giorgio De Chirico

Italiensk Born in Volos Metafysisk kunst Wikipedia in 29/32 languages

Giorgio De Chirico

Født den 10. juli 1888 i Volos, Grækenland, trådte Giuseppe Maria Alberto Giorgio de Chirico ind i en verden formet af bevægelse og mangfoldige rødder. Da Giorgio De Chirico blev født i Volos, Grækenland, i 1888, trådte han ind i en verden præget af konstant bevægelse og rødder, der strakte sig over mange grænser. Omkring 1900 eller 1903 begyndte han at studere tegning og maleri på Athens Polyteknik.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

7of 86

H.R. Giger

Born in Chur Wikipedia in 24/32 languages

H.R. Giger

I hjertet af Gigers kunst ligger en kompleks og urovækkende vision – en verden, hvor menneskeheden er smeltet sammen med maskineriet. De tilbagevendende motiver i hans arbejde – flydende, organiske former flettet sammen med stive, metalliske strukturer – repræsenterer denne grundlæggende dualitet.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

9of 86

Man Ray

Amerikansk Born in Philadelphia Dada, Surrealisme

Man Ray

Hans livsbane, født i 1890 i Philadelphia til russisk-jødiske immigranter, er et vidnesbyrd om den radikale kunstneriske ferment i det tidlige 20. århundrede. Hans families flytning til New York City var afgørende, og udsatte ham for den blomstrende modernistiske scene og indgydte i ham en livslang fascination med eksperimentering.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

10of 86

Alberto Giacometti

Schweiz Born in Borgonovo Existentialismus, Surrealismus

Alberto Giacometti

Alberto Giacometti, en navn synonymt med de hængende figurer, der definerer meget af 20. århundredes skulptur, blev født i 1901 midt i den betagende natur omkring Borgonovo, Schweiz. Hans far, Giovanni Giacometti, var en respekteret Post-Impressionist maler, og denne familiære immersion gav både opmuntring og et fundament, hvorpå ung Alberto kunne bygge.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

11of 86

Remedios Varo

Spansk-mexicansk Born in Anglès Para-surrealisme Wikipedia in 19/32 languages

Remedios Varo

I sit studios stille kroge arbejdede Remedios Varo med en omhu, der spejlede de tekniske tegninger fra hendes far, en hydraulisk ingeniør. Hendes opvækst i Anglès, Spanien, lagde et fundament af dualitet. Hun bevægede sig gennem verden med et nysgerrigt blik, hvor hun opsugede landskaberne fra sine hyppige flytninger og den formelle uddannelse, hun modtog på Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando i Madrid.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

12of 86

Leonora Carrington

Britisk-mexicansk Born in Clayton-le-Woods Surrealisme Wikipedia in 22/32 languages

Leonora Carrington

Arca de Noé (1967), en livlig skildring af Noas Ark overfyldt med fantastiske væsner, eksemplificerer hendes udforskning af skabelse og fornyelse. The Return of Boadicea (1969) fremviser hendes himmelske billedsprog og mytiske historiefortælling.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

13of 86

Yves Tanguy

Fransk-Amerikansk Born in 8. arrondissement i Paris Surrealisme Wikipedia in 26/32 languages

Yves Tanguy

Født i Paris den 5. januar 1900 var hans tidlige liv præget af en følelse af fremmedgørelse og ensomhed, der dybtgående formede hans kunstneriske vision. Hans far, en pensioneret marinekaptajn af bretonsk oprindelse, døde da Tanguy var otte år gammel, hvilket førte til en barndom tilbragt mellem slægtninge i Bretagne.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

14of 86

Dorothea Tanning

Amerikansk Born in Galesburg Surrealisme Wikipedia in 20/32 languages

Dorothea Tanning

Dorothea Margaret Tanning, født den 25. august 1910 i Galesburg, Illinois, udsprang af en slægt af svenske immigranter og arvede en stille styrke, som subtilt skulle danne fundament for hendes dristigt fantasifulde kunst. Et kort ophold på Knox College i 1928-30 veg pladsen for Chicas tiltrækningskraft og senere, i 1935, den vibrerende energi i New York City.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

15of 86

Leonor Fini

Argentiner/italiensk Born in Buenos Aires Surrealisme Wikipedia in 16/32 languages

Leonor Fini

Leonor Fini, født i Buenos Aires i Argentina i 1907 og opvokset blandt de flygtige landskaber i Trieste, Italien, var en kunstner hvis liv selv føltes som en evig proces med forvandling. Hun blev hurtigt absorberet i den livlige surrealistiske scene, hvor hun knyttede venskaber med Paul Éluard, Max Ernst (med hvem hun havde et betydeligt romantisk forhold), Georges Bataille, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Picasso, André Pieyre de Mandiargues og Salvador Dalí.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

16of 86

André Masson

Fransk Born in Balagny-sur-Thérain ['Surrealisme', 'Kubisme'] Wikipedia in 21/32 languages

André Masson

André Masson, født den 4. januar 1896 i Balagny-sur-Thérain nær Paris, var en af de mest markante figurer i det 20. århundredes kunstliv. Ved blot 11 års alderen blev han optaget på den Royale Kunstakademi i Bruxelles, hvor han studerede under Constant Montald. I midten af 1920’erne blev Masson en nøglefigur i surrealistbevægelsen, hvor han entusiastisk omfavnede teknikken med automatiske tegninger.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

17of 86

Meret Oppenheim

Schweizisk-tysk Born in Berlin Surrealisme Wikipedia in 18/32 languages

Meret Oppenheim

Meret Oppenheim blev født i Berlin, Tyskland, i 1913, men hendes skæbne blev tidligt formet af de turbulente tider under Første Verdenskrig. Hendes navn er inspireret af Meretlein fra Gottfried Kellers "Den grønne Henrik". Rejsen mod et unikt kunstnerisk udtryk tog for alvor fart, da Meret Oppenheim i 1932 slog sig ned i Paris for at studere ved det prestigefyldte Académie de la Grande Chaumière.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

18of 86

Wifredo Lam

Cuban Born in Caguas Surrealism, Cubism Wikipedia in 16/32 languages

Wifredo Lam

Wifredo Óscar de la Concepción Lam y Castilla, kendt som Wifredo Lam, var en maler der udtrykte kompleksiteten af kulturel identitet i det 20. århundrede. Han blev født i Sagua La Grande, Cuba, i 1902 og hans egen linje nedstammer fra kinesiske immigranter og hans mor sporede sine rødder tilbage til spansk konquistador og slavearbejdere.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

19of 86

Victor Brauner

Rumensk-fransk Born in Piatra Neamț Surrealisme Wikipedia in 14/32 languages

Victor Brauner

Victor Brauner, født i Piatra Neamt, Rumænien, i 1903, påbegyndte en kunstnerisk rejse, der var dybt sammenvævet med spirituelle strømninger og en rastløs udforskning af form. Den formelle uddannelse ved den Nationale Skole for Skønne Kunster i Bukarest lagde et fundament, men Brauner beviste hurtigt sit væsen som en nonkonformist, ivrig efter at bryde fri af traditionelle begrænsninger.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

20of 86

Roberto Matta

Chilensk Born in Santiago ['Surrealisme', 'Abstrakt ekspressionisme'] Wikipedia in 15/32 languages

Roberto Matta

Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren, bedre kendt som Roberto Matta, var en chilensk maler og arkitekt, der satte et betydeligt præg på både abstrakt ekspressionisme og surrealistisk kunst. Hans rejse fra arkitektstuderende til indflydelsesrig kunstner afspejler en dybdegående udforskning af det underbevidste sind og en helt unik kunstnerisk vision.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

21of 86

Felix Nussbaum

Tysk-jødisk Born in Osnabrück Surrealisme, Ny Objektivitet Wikipedia in 17/32 languages

Felix Nussbaum

He wasn't simply a victim of history; he was an artist who meticulously documented its impact on his soul, creating a body of work that stands as both a personal lament and a universal warning. Nussbaum’s artistic journey began with formal studies in Hamburg and Berlin in 1920, continuing for as long as circumstances allowed.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

22of 86

Joseph Cornell

Amerikansk Born in Nyack Assemblage, Surrealisme Wikipedia in 14/32 languages

Joseph Cornell

Cornells kunstneriske rødder var mere komplekse end man umiddelbart skulle tro. Cornell var også inspireret af poesi, især den amerikanske modernistiske poet Ezra Pound, hvis arbejde fokuserede på fragmentering, juxtaposition og det evige tilbagevenden til det samme tema. Selvom han primært var autodidakt, var hans eksponering for den amerikanske Surrealistbevægelse i 1930'erne afgørende.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

23of 86

Ernst Fuchs

Østrigsk Born in Wien Fantastisk Realisme Wikipedia in 16/32 languages

Ernst Fuchs

Egg Tempera: Egg tempera provides a durable base for painting, allowing for precise layering and blending of colors. Oil Paint Glaze: Oil paint glaze adds depth and luminosity to the artwork, enhancing its visual impact. Fuchs was honored by the State Russian Museum in St Petersburg for his pioneering role in shaping modern art."

Key works · The 100 most famous works

25of 86

Dora Maar

French Born in 6th arrondissement of Paris Surrealist Photography Wikipedia in 22/32 languages

Dora Maar

She began her artistic journey formally at the École de Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian in Paris, honing her skills in painting before gravitating towards photography. Collaboration with Kéfer and Cartier-Bresson: A pivotal moment arrived in 1930 when she joined forces with Pierre Kéfer, establishing a shared studio that became a hub for artistic experimentation. Political Activism: Her participation in demonstrations, convocations, and the signing of manifestos like ‘When Surrealists Were Right’ demonstrated her unwavering commitment to anti-fascist causes.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

26of 86

Elsa Schiaparelli

Italiensk Born in Rom Surrealist mode

Elsa Schiaparelli

Hendes far, Celestino Schiaparelli, en anerkendt forsker i islamisk studier og sanskrit, skabte et miljø rigt på læring, mens hendes onkel, astronom Giovanni Schiaparelli – kendt for sine observationer af Mars’ “kanaler” – vækkede en livslang fascination med kosmos og det usædvanlige i hende.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

28of 86

Luis Royo

Spansk Born in Olalla Fantasy illustration

Luis Royo

Et bemærkelsesværdigt afstødelse kom i 2006 med det ambitiøse fresco maleri han skabte sammen med Romulo Royo på en kuppel i Moskva – et projektomhyggeligt dokumenteret i kunstbogen Dome. Dead Moon serien, der startede i 2009, viste yderligere hans alsidighed med sin distinkte østlige tema og det tilhørende tarot kort sæt.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

30of 86

Jim Warren

Amerikansk Born in Long Beach Surrealistisk fantasy

Jim Warren

Hans karriere vandt betydelig fremgang gennem samarbejder med den berømte marinekunstner Wyland og den ligesindede illustrator Michael Godard, hvilket har resulteret i storslåede vægmalerier og fængslende bogomslag, der udforsker temaer som mytologi, natur og menneskelige følelser. Særligt bemærkelsesværdigt er Warrens partnerskab med Wyland, som førte til det ikoniske ”Ocean Visions”-projekt, der demonstrerede hans evne til at formidle storhed og forundring.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

31of 86

Michael Parkes

Born in Sikeston

Michael Parkes

Født i 1944 i Sikeston, Missouri, fremstod Michael Parkes som en sand original og visionær stemme i samtidskunsten – en mester i at smelte fantasi, spiritualitet og teknisk virtuositet sammen. De Tre Gracier, for eksempel – et maleri fremtrædende vist i Dan Browns The Lost Symbol – er ikke blot en smuk skildring af mytologiske figurer, men en kompleks allegori der inviterer til fortolkning på flere niveauer.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

32of 86

Maurice Tabard

French Born in Lyon Surrealism

Maurice Tabard

Initially destined for a musical career – his mother an amateur musician – Tabard’s early creative inclinations found expression in the intricate patterns of silk design at his father's factory. A pivotal moment arrived in 1914 when his father’s business necessitated a relocation to New York City, an event that irrevocably altered Tabard’s artistic trajectory. In 1951 Francis Quirk curated an exhibit of his work at Lehigh University along with photographs by Ansel Adams, demonstrating a recognition of Tabard's place within a broader artistic context.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

33of 86

George Wallace Jardine

British Surrealism

George Wallace Jardine

His work established him as one of Scotland’s foremost landscape painters, blending the tangible reality of the natural world with the intangible whispers of the subconscious. The genesis of Jardine’s unique aesthetic was shaped by a diverse array of artistic impulses, ranging from the delicate precision of Indian miniature painting to the pioneering, fragmented approach of Max Ernst. The historical significance of George Wallace Jardine lies in his ability to bridge the gap between traditional landscape painting and the avant-garde surrealist movement.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

34of 86

Graham Sutherland

Britisk Born in Streatham Surrealisme Wikipedia in 13/32 languages

Graham Sutherland

Graham Vivian Sutherland, en titan inden for britisk modernisme, besad den sjældne evne til at transformere den naturlige verdens velkendte konturer til noget dybt foruroligende og spirituelt. Da han overgik til Goldsmiths' School of Art, begyndte Sutherland at bevæge sig væk fra traditionel repræsentation og følte sig draget mod den evokative kraft i kobberstik og raderinger.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

35of 86

Claude Cahun

French Born in Nantes Surrealism

Claude Cahun

Cahun’s photographic work stands apart from its contemporaries. As Cahun herself stated, “The abstraction, the dream, are as limited for me as the concrete and the real.” This approach mirrored the broader surrealist preoccupation with accessing subconscious realms and challenging rational thought. She created clandestine photographs documenting the plight of refugees and prisoners of war—images imbued with compassion and defiance.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

36of 86

Oleksandr Aksinin

Ukrainian Born in Lviv Soviet art, Printmaking

Oleksandr Aksinin

Oleksandr Aksinin var en fremragende kunstner og prægekunstner, født i 1949 i Lviv, Ukraine, og døde i en flystyrt nær byen i 1985, kun 36 år gammel. Han blev mest kendt inden for Sovjetunionen under hans levetid og udstillede kunstværker gennem hele Ukraine, USSR og Østeuropa – hans eneste internationale soloudstilling fandt sted i Lodz, Polen, i 1981.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

37of 86

Octavio Ocampo

Born in Celaya Wikipedia in 9/32 languages

Octavio Ocampo

Hans arv strækker sig ud over lærredet – det er et vidnesbyrd om illusionens kraft, kompleksitetens skønhed og den vedvarende menneskelige trang til at finde mening inden for virkelighedens lag. Han forbliver en vital kraft i samtidskunsten og inspirerer generationer af kunstnere til at udforske opfattelsens dybder og de grænseløse muligheder for visuelt udtryk.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

39of 86

Saul Steinberg

Romanian-American Born in Râmnicu Sărat Modernist Cartooning Wikipedia in 17/32 languages

Saul Steinberg

To encounter the work of Saul Steinberg is to step into a realm where the boundaries between thought and line, between reality and metaphor, begin to dissolve. He was a fixture in the prestigious galleries of New York, exhibiting alongside giants like Arshile Gorky and Robert Motherwell, yet he remained a beloved figure in the pages of mass-circulation periodicals.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

40of 86

Luigi Serafini

Born in Rom

Luigi Serafini

Luigi Serafini, født i Rom i 1949, indtager en helt unik plads i den samtidige fantasi, hvor han fungerer som både arkitekt for fysiske strukturer og kartograf over umulige verdener. Opvokset i en kunstnerisk arv var Serafinis tidlige liv gennemsyret af nuancerne i form og design – et fundament, der senere gjorde det muligt for ham at bygge bro mellem arkitekturens stringente logik og den surrealistiske fantasys flydende kaos.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

41of 86

Oscar Dominguez

Spansk Born in San Cristóbal de La Laguna Surrealism Wikipedia in 10/32 languages

Oscar Dominguez

Domínguez, en spansk surrealistisk maler, blev født den 3. januar 1906 i San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, på De Kanariske Øer i Spanien. Denne periode var afgørende for hans kunstneriske udvikling, da han frekventerede kunstskoler, besøgte gallerier og museer, og hentede inspiration fra avantgardemalerne som Yves Tanguy og Pablo Picasso. I 1933 mødte Domínguez André Breton, surrealismens førende teoretiker, samt poeten Paul Éluard.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

42of 86

Hans Bellmer

German Born in Katowice Surrealism, Photography Wikipedia in 15/32 languages

Hans Bellmer

While primarily known for his dolls, Bellmer’s photographic work is equally significant. His photographs are characterized by a stark, almost clinical aesthetic, often employing unusual lighting and unsettling compositions. These images, published in his privately printed book Die Puppe (The Doll), were initially met with obscurity within Germany due to the artist’s deliberate isolation and the political climate.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

45of 86

Angus Rowland Mcbean

Born in Monmouth, New Jersey

Angus Rowland Mcbean

McBean’s initial artistic pursuits lay in the realm of theatrical design. He began his career crafting masks and scenery, developing a keen eye for visual storytelling and dramatic presentation. McBean transitioned into full-time theatre photography, quickly establishing himself as a skilled chronicler of the British stage.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

46of 86

Wolfgang Paalen

Austrian-Mexican Born in Vienna Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism Wikipedia in 9/32 languages

Wolfgang Paalen

His father, Gustav Robert Paalen, was a successful inventor – the mind behind innovations like the vacuum cleaner and Thermos bottle – whose own background blended Polish-Ashkenazi and Spanish-Sephardic heritage. Initial guidance came from German painter Leo von König, nurturing Paalen’s nascent talent and setting him on a path toward artistic expression. Wolfgang Paalen died in Taxco, Mexico, in 1959, leaving behind a body of work that continues to challenge and inspire.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

48of 86

Wilhelm Freddie

Dansk Born in København Abstrakt kunst, realistisk surrealisme Wikipedia in 12/32 languages

Wilhelm Freddie

Født som Christian Frederik Wilhelm Carlsen den 7. februar 1909 i København, Danmark, levede Wilhelm Freddie et liv defineret af en rastløs søgen efter nye visuelle sprog. Mellem 1929 og 1930 arbejdede han som lærling som billedhugger på den Tekniske Skole, en periode, der forankrede hans forståelse for form og fysisk tilstedeværelse.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

49of 86

Manuel Álvarez Bravo

Mexican Surrealist photography; Mexican muralism

Manuel Álvarez Bravo

Bravo’s artistic breakthrough arrived during the turbulent years following the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920). While he took art classes at the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes, much of his photography was self-taught, driven by an internal compulsion to document the shifting Mexican identity. Throughout his career, which spanned from the late 1920s to the 1990s, he achieved numerous accolades, particularly after 1970, and his contributions were recognized by the inclusion of his work on UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register in 2017.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

50of 86

Sergei Parajanov

Armenian, Ukrainian Born in Tbilisi Surrealism, Folklore

Sergei Parajanov

Sergei Parajanov, born Sarkis Hovsepi Parajaniants in Tbilisi, Georgia on January 9th, 1924, was more than just a filmmaker; he was a cultural architect, a visual poet, and a fiercely independent artist who profoundly shaped the landscape of world cinema. He is considered one of the 20 greatest film directors of all time, an honor bestowed upon him by the Rotterdam International Film Festival.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

51of 86

Eileen Agar

Argentine-British Born in Buenos Aires Surrealism Wikipedia in 9/32 languages

Eileen Agar

Eileen Forrester Agar, born in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires in 1899 to a Scottish father and American mother, was an artist whose life and work embodied a fascinating interplay of cultures and artistic movements. In 1988, she published her autobiography, A Look at My Life, offering invaluable insights into her creative process and the vibrant artistic milieu she inhabited.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

52of 86

George Condo

Amerikansk Born in Concord Kunstig Realisme Wikipedia in 7/32 languages

George Condo

Mødet med Jean-Michel Basquiat i 1979 viste sig at være afgørende og førte til en flytning til New York City og en fuld fordybelse i den spirende kunstverden. Condos ankomst til New York faldt sammen med den eksplosive energi i East Village kunstscenen i de tidlige 1980'ere.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

53of 86

Mário Cesariny

Portugisisk Born in Lissabon Surrealisme, Poesi

Mário Cesariny

Født i Lissabon, Portugal, den 9. august 1923, ind i en familie præget af både privilegier og stille turbulens, trådte Mário Cesariny de Vasconcelos frem som en af de mest markante stemmer inden for portugisisk surrealisme. Hans far, Viriato de Vasconcelos, en dygtig guldsmed, og hans mor, María de las Mercedes Cesariny, en spansk kvinde af fransk afstamning, oplevede ægteskabelige vanskeligheder, der kastede en skygge over hjemmet.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

55of 86

Artur Cruzeiro Seixas

Born in Amadora 1920s Art Deco

Artur Cruzeiro Seixas

His collaboration with Natália Correia on the renowned “Anthology of Erotic and Satirical Portuguese Poetry” in 1966 showcased his ability to seamlessly blend visual art with literary themes. The late 1960s brought further recognition, including a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which allowed him to dedicate himself fully to his artistic pursuits. Seixas’s artistic journey began in the fertile intellectual environment of António Arroio School, where he forged lasting friendships with key figures who would shape Portugal's cultural landscape: Mário Cesariny, Marcelino Vespeira, Júlio Pomar, and Fernando Azevedo.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

56of 86

Pavel Tchelitchew

Russisk-født Born in Dubrovka Surrealisme, Neo-romantik Wikipedia in 7/32 languages

Pavel Tchelitchew

Han blev født ind i en aristokratisk familie nær Moskva, og hans tidlige liv var præget af privat uddannelse og en spirende interesse for ballet og de visuelle kunstarter – passioner, der skulle komme til at forme hans kunstneriske bane på dybtgående vis.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

57of 86

Marcelo Grassmann

Brazilian Born in Sao Joao do Rio Preto Engraving and draughtsmanship

Marcelo Grassmann

Influenced by Austrian artist Alfred Kubin and prominent Brazilian engravers Oswaldo Goeldi and Livio Abramo. These influences shaped his early style and thematic concerns. Unique Contribution to Brazilian Art: Grassmann made a significant contribution to Brazilian art through his innovative approach to engraving and draughtsmanship.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

58of 86

María Izquierdo

Mexicansk Born in San Juan de los Lagos Surrealisme, Folkekunst Wikipedia in 11/32 languages

María Izquierdo

María Izquierdo Rodríguez, en pionerende mexicansk maler, blev født den 30. oktober 1902 i San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico. Denne banebrydende kunstner dedikende sit liv og sin karriere til at male kunst, der med stolthed fremviste hendes mexicanske rødder, og hun formåede at stå sideløbende med berømte mandlige mexicanske kunstnere som Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco og David Alfaro Siqueiros.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

59of 86

Kay Sage

American Born in Watervliet Surrealism Wikipedia in 11/32 languages

Kay Sage

For a decade following her marriage to Italian Prince Ranieri di San Faustino in 1925, Sage largely abandoned painting, embracing the social obligations inherent in aristocratic life. The turning point arrived with her divorce in 1935 and subsequent move to Paris in 1937. A joint exhibition with Tanguy at the Wadsworth Atheneum in 1954 further solidified her reputation within artistic circles.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

60of 86

Xul Solar

Born in San Fernando Wikipedia in 9/32 languages

Xul Solar

Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari, kendt i hele verden som Xul Solar, var en skikkelse, der trodsede enhver nem kategorisering. Han blev født i San Fernando, Argentina, i 1887, og hans liv og kunst var en levende gobelin vævet af tråde fra en kosmopolitisk opvækst, esoterisk udforskning og en urokkelig dedikation til kunstnerisk innovation.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

61of 86

Richard Oelze

German Born in Magdeburg Surrealism Wikipedia in 7/32 languages

Richard Oelze

As a painter, draftsperson, and graphic artist, Oelze was regarded as a significant figure in surrealism. One of his most important works is Die Erwartung (The Expectation, 1935/1936), which depicts a group of people with their backs to the observer, staring into an empty landscape.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

62of 86

Hedda Sterne

Rumænien Born in Bukarest Abstrakt ekspressionisme & Surrealisme Wikipedia in 8/32 languages

Hedda Sterne

Hedda Sterne, født Hedwig Lindenberg i Bukarest, Rumænien, i 1910, var en kunstner hvis liv og værk afspejlede et fascinerende krydsfelt mellem kulturer, bevægelser og personlige filosofier. Hendes formelle træning begyndte i 1918 under vejledning af Frederic Storck, en skulptør, der havde undervist hendes lærer Max Hermann Maxy, hvilket satte hende på vej til at engagere sig med nogle af de mest centrale kunstneriske strømninger i det tyvende århundrede.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

63of 86

Pierre Roy

French Born in Nantes Surrealist Wikipedia in 7/32 languages

Pierre Roy

In 1905, he committed himself to painting, beginning his exhibition history in 1906 at the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (SNBA). A significant moment in his career occurred in 1925 when he participated in the first exhibition of surrealist painters alongside figures such as Giorgio de Chirico, Max Ernst, and Pablo Picasso.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

65of 86

Francisco Toledo

Mexikaner Born in Mexico City Surrealisme og Folkkunst Wikipedia in 10/32 languages

Francisco Toledo

Han studerede under Guillermo Silva Santamaría ved Centro Superior de Artes Aplicadas del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, hvor han fik inspiration fra klassisk kunst og filosofi. Han var også dybt imponeret af kunstnere som Rufino Tamayo og Paul Klee, hvis stil og teknikker han efterlignede og videreudviklede. Det er umuligt at kategorisere Francisco Toledo inden for en enkelt kunstnerisk bevægelse, og måske endda uønsket.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

67of 86

Jacqueline Lamba

French Born in Saint-Mandé Surrealism Wikipedia in 6/32 languages

Jacqueline Lamba

Their connection was nothing short of cinematic—a romance ignited by the sight of Lamba performing as a nude underwater dancer at the Coliseum, an image that would forever haunt Breton’s memory. While historical narratives often relegated her to the role of the muse or the devoted spouse, Lamba was far more than a silent inspiration.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

68of 86

Vlady

Modern Art

Vlady

Vlady’s artistic development has been marked by a consistent dedication to traditional oil painting techniques. This painstaking approach requires immense patience and skill, resulting in paintings that possess a tactile quality and an almost photographic realism. The influence of classical masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer is palpable – particularly in Vlady's masterful use of light and shadow to create dramatic effect and evoke a sense of intimacy.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

69of 86

Caleb Lewis

Australian

Caleb Lewis

He works primarily through stippling, a method where images are rendered exclusively in pen and ink through the application of countless small dots. The concentration required to place each point allows for a quiet stillness, turning a repetitive motion into a means of managing internal noise.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

70of 86

Raquel Forner

Argentine Born in Buenos Aires Expressionism, Surrealism Wikipedia in 5/32 languages

Raquel Forner

Raquel Forner (1902–1988) stands as a monumental figure in the landscape of Latin American modernism, an artist whose brushstrokes did not merely capture light, but rather channeled the profound tremors of a century defined by upheaval. Her legacy is characterized by several key artistic pillars: Technical Mastery: The use of heavy impasto and rich, emotive color palettes that give her subjects a sculptural, palpable presence.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

71of 86

Lubo Kristek

Tjekkisk/Tysk Born in Brno ['Konceptuel kunst', 'Surrealisme', 'Performancekunst'] Wikipedia in 6/32 languages

Lubo Kristek

Født i Brno, Tjekkiet, i 1943, trådte Lubo Kristek frem som en markant stemme i den efterkrigstidslige europæiske kunstscene. Et vendepunkt i Kristeks kunstneriske udvikling kom med hans flytning til Vesttyskland i 1968 efter Prag-foråret. Værker som Kristek House i Brno – en bygning forvandlet til et surrealistisk arkitektonisk assemblage – demonstrerer hans engagement i at gøre kunsten tilgængelig og udfordre fastsatte forestillinger om det urbane landskab.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

72of 86

James Gleeson

Australsk Born in Australien Surrealisme Wikipedia in 4/32 languages

James Gleeson

Gleessons kunstneriske rejse begyndte med en bevidst afvisning af konventionel repræsentation. Dette markerede et brud med den traditionelle australske kunst, som ofte fokuserede på pastorale scener og idealiserede landskaber; Gleeson var i gang med at udstikke en helt anden kurs.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

73of 86

Julian Trevelyan

Britisk Born in Dorking Surrealisme og Printmaking Wikipedia in 3/32 languages

Julian Trevelyan

Her mødtes han med nogle af de mest betydningsfulde figurer inden for avantgardet – Max Ernst, Oskar Kokoschka, Joan Miró og Pablo Picasso – kunstnere der udfordrede konventionelle forståelser af repræsentation og omfavnede kraften i det underbevidste. Han arbejdede sammen med Max Ernst, Oskar Kokoschka, Joan Miró og Pablo Picasso om at udforske nye teknikker og perspektiver inden for kunstnerisk udtryk.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

74of 86

Jeffrey Smart

Australian Born in Adelaide Precisionism Wikipedia in 5/32 languages

Jeffrey Smart

Frank Jeffrey Edson Smart, known universally as Jeffrey Smart, emerged onto the Australian art scene from a childhood steeped in both encouragement and constraint. Though initially drawn to the precision of architecture, financial realities steered him toward teacher training, a path that nonetheless allowed him to continue developing his artistic skills at the South Australian School of Arts and Crafts. A subsequent period on the island of Ischia in 1950, shared with fellow Australian painters Donald Friend, Michael Shannon, and Jacqueline Hick, further solidified his artistic direction.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

75of 86

Conroy Maddox

English Born in Ledbury Surrealism Wikipedia in 4/32 languages

Conroy Maddox

He rejected traditional painting methods, embracing collage, frottage, and decalcomania—techniques that allowed for chance encounters and the emergence of unexpected forms. The influence of psychoanalysis, particularly the theories of Sigmund Freud, is evident in his exploration of hidden desires and repressed emotions. Conroy Maddox died in London in 2005 at the age of 92, leaving behind a remarkable body of work that continues to captivate and inspire.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

77of 86

György Roman

Ungarsk Born in Rome Surrealisme Wikipedia in 4/32 languages

György Roman

Born in Rome, Italy, though his roots lay firmly planted in Budapest, Roman’s formative years were steeped in European intellectual currents – Nietzsche, Kafka, Freud – which profoundly shaped his artistic sensibilities and fueled his exploration of psychological landscapes within his paintings. Furthermore, his works found their way into the Odescalchi Balbi Collection in Rome and were exhibited at Guildhall Art Gallery – London's Roman Amphitheatre—solidifying his place as a pivotal figure in European Modernism.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

78of 86

Jorge Castillo

Spanish Born in Pontevedra Abstract Expressionist Wikipedia in 5/32 languages

Jorge Castillo

Castillo's artistic trajectory began with a formal education in drawing at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, a crucial period that exposed him to the revolutionary currents of Surrealism. Returning to Spain in 1955, he settled in Barcelona, a city that would become inextricably linked to his artistic identity.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

79of 86

Ivan Eyre

Canadian Born in Saskatchewan Abstract Figurative, Prairie Landscape Wikipedia in 3/32 languages

Ivan Eyre

His early life, marked by moves across the prairies—from Red Deer, Alberta, to Saskatoon—instilled in him an intimate understanding of the land’s character: its solitude, its ever-changing light, and its capacity for both beauty and starkness. This formative connection would become the bedrock of his artistic expression. Notably, nine of his sculptures are prominently displayed in the McMichael Sculpture Garden in Kleinburg, Ontario, and others grace Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, enriching public spaces with his distinctive aesthetic.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

80of 86

Ceri Richards

Born in Dunvant Wikipedia in 2/32 languages

Ceri Richards

Richards' formelle kunstneriske rejse begyndte på Gowerton Intermediate School, hvor hans talent hurtigt blev tydeligt og gav ham anerkendelse i lokale konkurrencer. Efter et læretid hos et elektrisk firma førte hans passion for kunsten ham til aftenstudier ved Swansea College of Art.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

81of 86

Eldzier Cortor

American Born in Richmond Surrealism, Realism Wikipedia in 3/32 languages

Eldzier Cortor

Simultaneously, Cortor’s dedication to positive portrayals of African Americans was nurtured by his avid readership of The Chicago Defender, a newspaper dedicated to celebrating Black achievements.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

82of 86

Linder Sterling

British Wikipedia in 4/32 languages

Linder Sterling

Her work has been featured in group exhibitions at the Tate Modern, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. In 2017, she was honored with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award. Her performance art has included works such as The Ultimate Form, a collaboration with choreographer Kenneth Tindall, and Children of the Stain.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

83of 86

Juan Barjola

Spanish Born in Torre de Miguel Sesmero New Figuration Wikipedia in 3/32 languages

Juan Barjola

His early paintings often featured fragmented figures and dreamlike landscapes, hinting at a subconscious world grappling with themes of isolation, memory, and the anxieties of war. He began to move away from purely representational forms, embracing abstraction as a means of conveying more complex emotional states. The shadow of Pablo Picasso loomed large over Spanish art during Barjola’s formative years, but rather than imitation, Picasso's example spurred him toward originality.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

84of 86

Emilio Tadini

Spanish Born in Milan Catalan Modernisme Wikipedia in 1/32 languages

Emilio Tadini

Emilio Tadini was far more than a painter; he was a profound architect of meaning within the Italian cultural landscape. Born in Milan in 1927, his journey began not with a brush, but with the written word. A poet, novelist, and essayist, Tadini first emerged onto the prestigious literary stage in 1947 through Elio Vittorini's magazine, Politecnico.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

85of 86

Leandre Cristòfol

Catalan Born in Olesa de Balaguer Surrealism, Non-figurative Wikipedia in 1/32 languages

Leandre Cristòfol

leandre cristòfol i peralba, en katalansk billedhugger, betragtes som en af pionererne inden for surrealistisk skulptur i Catalonien. Han blev født i Olesa de Balaguer, Spanien, i 1908 og gik bort i Lleida, Spanien, i 1998. Som selvlært kunstner formåede Cristòfol at skabe et værk, der spænder fra det ikke-figurative til dybt personlige portrætter og værker med religiøse temaer.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

86of 86

Ellen Lanyon

Born in Chicago World Goes Pop Wikipedia in 1/32 languages

Ellen Lanyon

Lanyon’s early work focused on intimate portraits of relatives and the spaces they inhabited – quiet studies imbued with a sense of psychological depth. However, this focus gradually shifted towards more fantastical compositions, populated by animal, vegetal, and floral motifs arranged in dreamlike scenarios. In the 1970s, Lanyon’s move to New York brought her into contact with the feminist art collective Heresies, further broadening her intellectual and artistic horizons.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

The paintings behind the names

Famous Surrealist works and the artists who made them

  1. The Broken Column by Frida Kahlo

    The Broken Column

    Frida Kahlo

    1944 · Museo Dolores Olmedo, Mexico City

  2. Rainy Taxi (Mannequin Rotting in a Taxi-Cab) by Salvador Dalí

    Rainy Taxi (Mannequin Rotting in a Taxi-Cab)

    Salvador Dalí

    1938

  3. The Farmer's Wife by Joan Miró

    The Farmer's Wife

    Joan Miró

    1923

  4. The Lovers by René Magritte

    The Lovers

    René Magritte

    1928

  5. The Entire City by Max Ernst

    The Entire City

    Max Ernst

    1935

  6. The Vexations of the Thinker by Giorgio De Chirico

    The Vexations of the Thinker

    Giorgio De Chirico

    1915

  7. hr giger pII the great beast p13 by H.R. Giger

    hr giger pII the great beast p13

    H.R. Giger

  8. Untitled by Zdzisław Beksiński

    Untitled

    Zdzisław Beksiński

    1984

Through time

A Surrealist timeline in masterpieces

  1. 1915
  2. 1923
  3. 1928
  4. 1936
  5. 1936
  6. 1938
  7. 1938
  8. 1940
  9. 1943
  10. 1945
  11. 1946
  12. 1955
  13. 1967
  14. 1981

In figures

By the numbers

All of them, in order

List of the 86 famous Surrealist artists

  1. 1Frida KahloFrida KahloMexicansk · 1907–1954
  2. 2Salvador DalíSalvador DalíSpansk · 1904–1989
  3. 3Joan MiróJoan MiróSpansk · 1893–1983
  4. 4René MagritteRené MagritteBelgisk · 1898–1967
  5. 5Max ErnstMax ErnstTysk · 1891–1976
  6. 6Giorgio De ChiricoGiorgio De ChiricoItaliensk · 1888–1978
  7. 7H.R. GigerH.R. Giger1940–2014
  8. 8Zdzisław BeksińskiZdzisław BeksińskiPolsk · 1929–2005
  9. 9Man RayMan RayAmerikansk · 1890–1976
  10. 10Alberto GiacomettiAlberto GiacomettiSchweiz · 1901–1966
  11. 11Remedios VaroRemedios VaroSpansk-mexicansk · 1908–1963
  12. 12Leonora CarringtonLeonora CarringtonBritisk-mexicansk · 1917–2011
  13. 13Yves TanguyYves TanguyFransk-Amerikansk · 1900–1955
  14. 14Dorothea TanningDorothea TanningAmerikansk · 1910–2012
  15. 15Leonor FiniLeonor FiniArgentiner/italiensk · 1907–1996
  16. 16André MassonAndré MassonFransk · 1896–1987
  17. 17Meret OppenheimMeret OppenheimSchweizisk-tysk · 1913–1985
  18. 18Wifredo LamWifredo LamCuban · 1902–1982
  19. 19Victor BraunerVictor BraunerRumensk-fransk · 1903–1966
  20. 20Roberto MattaRoberto MattaChilensk · 1911–2002
  21. 21Felix NussbaumFelix NussbaumTysk-jødisk · 1904–1944
  22. 22Joseph CornellJoseph CornellAmerikansk · 1903–1972
  23. 23Ernst FuchsErnst FuchsØstrigsk · 1930–2015
  24. 24Paul DelvauxPaul DelvauxBelgisk · 1897–1994
  25. 25Dora MaarDora MaarFrench · 1907–1997
  26. 26Elsa SchiaparelliElsa SchiaparelliItaliensk · 1890–1973
  27. 27Paul NashPaul Nash1889–1946
  28. 28Luis RoyoLuis RoyoSpansk · born 1954
  29. 29Julien LevyJulien LevyAmerikansk · 1906–1981
  30. 30Jim WarrenJim WarrenAmerikansk · born 1949
  31. 31Michael ParkesMichael Parkesborn 1944
  32. 32Maurice TabardMaurice TabardFrench · 1897–1984
  33. 33George Wallace JardineGeorge Wallace JardineBritish · 1920–2002
  34. 34Graham SutherlandGraham SutherlandBritisk · 1903–1980
  35. 35Claude CahunClaude CahunFrench · 1894–1954
  36. 36Oleksandr AksininOleksandr AksininUkrainian · 1949–1985
  37. 37Octavio OcampoOctavio Ocampoborn 1943
  38. 38Frederick SommerFrederick SommerAmerican · 1905–1999
  39. 39Saul SteinbergSaul SteinbergRomanian-American · 1914–1999
  40. 40Luigi SerafiniLuigi Serafiniborn 1949
  41. 41Oscar DominguezOscar DominguezSpansk · 1906–1957
  42. 42Hans BellmerHans BellmerGerman · 1902–1975
  43. 43Michael SowaMichael Sowaborn 1945
  44. 44Jacek YerkaJacek YerkaPolsk · born 1952
  45. 45Angus Rowland McbeanAngus Rowland Mcbean1904–1990
  46. 46Wolfgang PaalenWolfgang PaalenAustrian-Mexican · 1905–1959
  47. 47Clarence John LaughlinClarence John LaughlinAmerican · 1905–1985
  48. 48Wilhelm FreddieWilhelm FreddieDansk · 1909–1995
  49. 49Manuel Álvarez BravoManuel Álvarez BravoMexican · 1902–2002
  50. 50Sergei ParajanovSergei ParajanovArmenian, Ukrainian · 1924–1990
  51. 51Eileen AgarEileen AgarArgentine-British · 1899–1991
  52. 52George CondoGeorge CondoAmerikansk · born 1957
  53. 53Mário CesarinyMário CesarinyPortugisisk · 1923–2006
  54. 54Piroska SzantoPiroska SzantoHungarian · 1913–1998
  55. 55Artur Cruzeiro SeixasArtur Cruzeiro Seixas1920–2020
  56. 56Pavel TchelitchewPavel TchelitchewRussisk-født · 1898–1957
  57. 57Marcelo GrassmannMarcelo GrassmannBrazilian · 1925–2013
  58. 58María IzquierdoMaría IzquierdoMexicansk · 1902–1955
  59. 59Kay SageKay SageAmerican · 1898–1963
  60. 60Xul SolarXul Solar1887–1963
  61. 61Richard OelzeRichard OelzeGerman · 1900–1980
  62. 62Hedda SterneHedda SterneRumænien · 1910–2011
  63. 63Pierre RoyPierre RoyFrench · 1880–1950
  64. 64Ithell ColquhounIthell ColquhounBritish · 1906–1988
  65. 65Francisco ToledoFrancisco ToledoMexikaner · 1940–2019
  66. 66Margit AnnaMargit Anna1913–1991
  67. 67Jacqueline LambaJacqueline LambaFrench · 1910–1993
  68. 68VladyVlady1920–2005
  69. 69Caleb LewisCaleb LewisAustralian ·
  70. 70Raquel FornerRaquel FornerArgentine · 1902–1988
  71. 71Lubo KristekLubo KristekTjekkisk/Tysk · born 1943
  72. 72James GleesonJames GleesonAustralsk · 1915–2008
  73. 73Julian TrevelyanJulian TrevelyanBritisk · 1910–1988
  74. 74Jeffrey SmartJeffrey SmartAustralian · 1921–2013
  75. 75Conroy MaddoxConroy MaddoxEnglish · 1912–2005
  76. 76Tristram Paul HillierTristram Paul HillierEnglish · 1905–1983
  77. 77György RomanGyörgy RomanUngarsk · 1903–1981
  78. 78Jorge CastilloJorge CastilloSpanish · born 1933
  79. 79Ivan EyreIvan EyreCanadian · 1935–2022
  80. 80Ceri RichardsCeri Richards1903–1971
  81. 81Eldzier CortorEldzier CortorAmerican · 1916–2015
  82. 82Linder SterlingLinder SterlingBritish · born 1954
  83. 83Juan BarjolaJuan BarjolaSpanish · 1919–2004
  84. 84Emilio TadiniEmilio TadiniSpanish · 1927–2002
  85. 85Leandre CristòfolLeandre CristòfolCatalan · 1908–1998
  86. 86Ellen LanyonEllen Lanyon1926–2013

Your questions, answered

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

Further reading on WahooArt.com

Other movements

Famous artists of other movements

Other periods

Famous artists of other periods

More rankings

Explore more