Surrealism, a revolutionary art movement that emerged in the wake of the First World War, wasn't just about defying logic with melting clocks and dreamlike landscapes. It was a cultural rebellion, a rejection of the rational and a plunge into the subconscious. Inspired by Sigmund Freud’s theories of dreams and the unconscious, Surrealists shattered conventional boundaries, creating impossible settings and juxtaposing unlikely forms. The movement officially began with André Breton’s 1924 Surrealist manifesto, but its roots trace back to Giorgio de Chirico’s hallucinatory paintings in 1917. Surrealism left an indelible mark on painting, sculpture, literature, photography, and film, challenging societal norms, sparking creativity and forever changed the way we look at art.
Fast forward to 2024, and the world is celebrating the centennial of this artistic liberation. Museums around the globe are hosting major exhibitions, symposiums, and events, offering a unique opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of dreams, desires, and the power of the unconscious mind.
Celebrating the Centennial
Many museums around the world are preparing special exhibitions of surrealist art. Here are a few highlights:
Europe
Across the pond, the "IMAGINE!" exhibition, a collaboration between the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, is touring major cities. This comprehensive show explores the movement's international reach, showcasing iconic works by masters like Giorgio de Chirico, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró. It opened in Brussels in February and will arrive at the Pompidou on September 4. From Paris, it will go to Hamburg and Madrid, and finish its run at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2026.
Munich
Surrealism, for all its interest in dreams and the unconscious, was born in the political and moral wreckage of World War I. Its acolytes denounced all forms of societal oppression, from fascism to colonialism and authoritarianism. “But Live Here? No Thanks: Surrealism + Anti-Fascism,” at Munich’s Lenbachhaus, recontextualizes Surrealism in its political origins and legacy by illustrating how its tenets were embraced by emancipatory episodes in history such as the American civil rights movement and the liberation of North Africa from European occupation. Logically, the artist list extends beyond Paris and includes Manuel Álvarez Bravo from Mexico, the Romanian painter and sculptor Victor Brauner, Chilean abstract expressionist Roberto Matta, and Spanish painter Maruja Mallo.
Heilbronn, Germany
Opening in late summer at the Kunsthalle Vogelmann in Heilbronn, Germany, “Surrealism: Worlds in Dialogue” puts the Surrealist canon in conversation with its contemporary successors, demonstrating how deeply the movement’s themes and processes guide the zeitgeist. Artists including Yves Tanguy, René Magritte, and Claude Cahun will be paired with the likes of Cindy Sherman, Sarah Lucas, and David Lynch, illuminating the political, gender, and racial dimensions often overshadowed by the fantastical aesthetic. Around 120 objects, from paintings and works on paper to film and an augmented-reality installation, will be on view.
USA
St. Petersburg, Florida
The Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, is hosting the aptly titled "100 Years of Surrealism" conference. Bringing together scholars, artists, and museum professionals, this event promises a deep dive into the history, impact, and lasting legacy of Surrealism.
Gainesville, Florida
“Surrealism at the Harn: A Centennial Celebration,” at the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville, Florida, presents more than 40 works from the museum’s holdings representing 100 years of Surrealism, from its birth in 20th-century Paris to its ongoing global diffusion. Skunder Boghossian (Ethiopia-Armenia), Wifredo Lam (Cuba), and Rufino Tamayo (Mexico) are among the artists who applied, to dazzling effect, the Surrealist ideology to their singular political and natural contexts. Americans Jerry Uelsmann and Celeste Roberge, a photographer and sculptor, respectively, are among the 21st-century cohort.
Fort Worth
Curated by María Elena Ortiz, “Surrealism and Us”centers the associated histories of Surrealism and the Caribbean and African diaspora within the United States. This is the first intergenerational show dedicated to the subject at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; it takes its inspiration from the essay “1943: Surrealism and Us” by the Martiniquais writer and activist Suzanne Césaire, which leads fantastically with: “Many have believed that surrealism was dead. Many wrote so. Childish nonsense.” The presentation includes more than 80 artworks from the 1940s to today, each testifying to the diverse localizations of the movement.
Mexico
Mexico City's Galería RGR is showcasing "PLAYING WITH CLOSED EYES, 100 YEARS OF SURREALISM," highlighting the movement's influence on Latin American artists.
China
Shanghai
“Fantastic Visions: 100 Years of Surrealism,” organized by Shanghai’s Museum of Art Pudong with the National Galleries of Scotland, draws entirely from the collection of the National Galleries’ prodigious holdings of Surrealist art. The show features more than 100 works by over 50 artists—including Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Dorothea Tanning, Joan Miró, and Leonora Carrington—and spanning painting, sculpture, books, collage, and photography. Notably, all of the works on display are being presented in China for the first time.
A Summer of Surrealist Exploration
If you're planning a summer trip, consider incorporating a visit to one of these exciting exhibitions. Surrealism isn't just about the strange and bizarre; it's a journey into the depths of the human psyche, a testament to the power of imagination, and a reminder that art can challenge and inspire in equal measure. So, pack your bags, unleash your inner Dali, and get ready to lose yourself in the captivating world of Surrealism!
