Skip to main content

Surrealist Photography

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.

to
14
302
15
54
64
154
87
75
88
77
51
41
59
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
37,138
2,546
2,032
1,144
553
460
183
135
119
53
36
21
2
148
99
44
40
38
32
21
20
19
19
17
16
16
16
16
13
11
11
10
10
1
156
3
1
7
4
78
18
20
72
42
31
22
21
177
110
95
90
80
Style: Surrealist
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Golden Reflections off Manhattan Skyscrapers
Located in Miami, FL
Signed, dated, numbered lower right, recto 3/15, Unframed, other sizes available, printed later, Printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art paper Mitchell Funk is a "Color Photographer Pioneer...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Inkjet

“Has Found Out Thy Bed” (FRAMED) Photography 20x30 inch Ed. of 5 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Has Found Out Thy Bed” (FRAMED) Photography 20x30 inch Ed. of 5 by Brian Ziff “Has Found Out Thy Bed” (2016) Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag 20” X 30” inch ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Place for People" Photography 27.5" x 24" inch Edition 5/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Place for People" Photography 27.5" x 24" inch Edition 4/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Modern Traditions 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Modern Traditions 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Modern Traditions 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition 1/7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Modern Traditions 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition 1/7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Six" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Six" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available size...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

“Inside Out 2” (FRAMED) Photography 24" x 36" inch Edition of 7 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
Inside Out 2” (FRAMED) Photography 24" x 36" inch Edition of 7 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag American Dreams -...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Lily 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Lily 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

“Smoke and Mirrors” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" in Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Smoke and Mirrors” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" in Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag American Dreams - From "Playboy" series. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Pygmalion and Galatea" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Pygmalion and Galatea" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

“Nectar” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Nectar” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

“Inner Space” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Inner Space” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

“Red Bull” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Red Bull” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

“Your Joy is My Low” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Your Joy is My Low” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

"Geometry 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Geometry 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Moon Birth 3" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth 3" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availab...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Bird Master circus series exotic daguerreotype reproduction
Located in Lafayette, LA
exotic daguerreotype reproduction In the bustling world of 1890s circus sideshows, there was a reserved and stoic figure who commanded the attention of audiences with his awe-inspir...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

Ripple Effect ll
Located in East Hampton, NY
Ripple Effect II Year: 2018 Medium: Photography (printed on metal) Size: 30" x 20" (larger sizes available - inquire within) 16x24 on metal - $750 20x30 on metal - $950 Made to Order...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Metal

“Tramp Stamp 1” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" inch Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Tramp Stamp 1” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" inch Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag American Dreams - From "Playboy" series. T...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Stardust" Photography 24" x 30" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Stardust" Photography 24" x 30" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Olha Ste...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Armenian Mirror
Located in Boca Raton, FL
New York-based, Armenian-born artist, Tigran Tsitoghdzyan, is especially interested in how people interact in this new era of technology and social media. His “Mirrors” series sugges...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Moon Birth" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition 4/7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition 4/7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Peter Saville Vinyl Record Art
By Peter Saville
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Peter Saville vinyl record art 2007: Off-set print on vinyl record. Measure: 12 x 12 inches Excellent condition. Published by Visionaire Fashion, 2007; unsigned from an edition of ...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Offset, Plastic

"Geometry" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 5/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Geometry" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 3/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

“Protect Your Heart” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Protect Your Heart” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From the "Aequinoctium" series Brian Ziff is...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Invisibility Hat" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Av...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"I Love You Anna" Photography 31" x 47" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"I Love You Anna" Photography 31" x 47" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Av...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"No Time" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"No Time" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available si...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Like No One is Watching, limited edition color print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Like No One is Watching, limited edition color print, signed and numbered Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettabl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Our House, limited edition color print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Our House, limited edition color print, signed and numbered Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's im...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Aerial 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Aerial 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Clean Air - Oversize Signed
Located in London, GB
Clean Air - Oversize Signed 40x30" inches / 101 x 76 cm paper size by Irie Wata Surrealist artist surreal surrealism dali modern dreamscape strange stranger things landsc...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 16" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 16" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. A...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Aerial 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Aerial 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availabl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Invisibility Hat" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Ava...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Aerial 3" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Aerial 3" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Japanese Samurai-exotic daguerreotype reproduction Framed
Located in Lafayette, LA
In the circus sideshows, where audiences gathered to witness the exotic and the extraordinary, there was a remarkable performer named Hiroshi, who portrayed a samurai. His act was a ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

"Cream” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Cream” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Rite of Spring" series In this melancholy series, we ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Man 's World" Photography 27.5" x 20" inch Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Man 's World" Photography 27.5" x 20" inch Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Ol...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 35.5" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 35.5" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Invisibility Hat" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Avai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Mystical Transcendent Orange Sunset Big Sky
Located in Miami, FL
A spectacular vast orange sunset dominates the sky as tiny onlookers gaze up and out with amazement. The image has a surreal quality to it and the relationship to the sky and people...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

quartet of circus images -exotic daguerreotype reproductions Framed
Located in Lafayette, LA
Here are 4 small framed images of daguerreotype reproductions featuring the Circus. The images are of a circus announcer, bingo, the Circus Elephant , a gypsy fortune teller , and ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

Three Circus Pugs - enchanting exotic daguerreotype reproduction Framed
Located in Lafayette, LA
n the circus, laughter and delight were paramount. At the heart of this spectacle was the head clown, a jolly and charismatic figure who brought joy to audiences with every mischievo...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

Wonder Room, limited edition color print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Wonder Room, limited edition color print, signed and numbered Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Vanilla
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Transport of Delight
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Writer
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Night Feast
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Realist
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

A Conceptually Surreal Watercolor on Cyanotype, "Jack o'Lantern Mushrooms, E..."
Located in San Diego, CA
A one of a kind 5" x 5" Conceptually Surreal Watercolor on Cyanotype Mounted on Wood Panel by artist Annalise Neil. A certificate of authenticity will be provided upon its purchase o...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Watercolor, Photographic Paper

Viking woman -Shield maiden- exotic daguerreotype reproduction Framed
Located in Lafayette, LA
This is an exotic daguerreotype reproduction of a circus sideshow performer in the 1890s. ChatGPT In the heart of the 1890s, amidst the allure of the circus, there existed a unique act that captivated audiences far and wide. At the center of this spectacle was a remarkable blonde Viking shield...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

"Modern Traditions 1" Photography 39" x 39" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Modern Traditions 1" Photography 39" x 39" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Gamekeeper's Charge, limited edition photograph, archival, signed
Located in Sante Fe, NM
The Gamekeeper's Charge, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered I present unspoken stories that illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evok...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Fragment Attraction, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Fragment Attraction, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered I present unspoken stories that illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Flight Risk" illustrative photography, surrealism, paper airplane motif
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Flight Risk" is a limited edition photographic print by Andrew Pinkham and is made from archival pigment on cotton rag. This piece measures 20"h x 20"w unframed an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Rag Paper

“A Bridge Too Far” Photography 36" x 24" inch Edition of 1/7 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“A Bridge Too Far” Photography 36" x 24" inch Edition of 1/7 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag Not framed. American Dreams - "Park Drive" seri...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

Tart to the Taste, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Tart to the Taste, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered I present unspoken stories that illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a m...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Surrealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist photography 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 photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, orange, purple and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mitchell Funk, Rosemary Ellis, Brian Ziff, and FPA Francis Pavy Artist. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Photographic Paper 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 photography, so small editions measuring 4.5 inches across are also available. Prices for photography 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 $110 and tops out at $28,800, while the average work sells for $1,750.

Recently Viewed

View All