Women Surrealists are women artists, photographers, filmmakers and authors connected with the Surrealism movement, which began in the early 1920s.

Painters

* Gertrude Abercrombie (1909–1977), Chicago artist inspired by the Surrealists, who became prominent in the 1930s and 1940s. She was also involved with the

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

music scene and was friends with musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie,

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

, and Sarah Vaughan.Richard Vine,
Where the Wild Things Were
, '' Art in America'', May 1997, pp. 98–111Warren, Lynn, ''Art in Chicago 1945–1995'', Thames & Hudson, 1996 *

Marion Adnams Marion Elizabeth Adnams (3 December 1898 – 24 October 1995) was an English painter, printmaker and draughtswoman. She is notable for her surrealist paintings, in which apparently unconnected objects appear together in unfamiliar, often outdoor ...

(1898–1995), English painter, printmaker, and draughtswoman, notable for her

surrealist Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to ...

paintings. * Eileen Forrester Agar (1899–1991), born in Argentina and moved to Britain in childhood. She was prominent among British surrealists; Agar made intricate collages and paintings of abstract organic shapes.Colvile, Georgiana, ''Scandaleusement d'elles: trente-quatre femmes surréalistes'', Jean-Michel Place, Paris, 1999 *

Rachel Baes Rachel Baes (1 August 1912 – 8 June 1983) was a Belgian surrealist painter. The growth of the women's movement in the late 20th century led to renewed interest in women artists and brought greater appreciation of her work. In 2002 the Koninkli ...

(1912–1983), Belgian painter, who from 1929 onwards was a member of the Surrealist group around

René Magritte René François Ghislain Magritte (; 21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist known for his depictions of familiar objects in unfamiliar, unexpected contexts, which often provoked questions about the nature and bound ...

. * Fanny Brennan (1921–2001), painter; grew up in the world of art spending time with

Gerald and Sara Murphy Gerald Clery Murphy and Sara Sherman Wiborg were wealthy, expatriate Americans who moved to the French Riviera in the early 20th century and who, with their generous hospitality and flair for parties, created a vibrant social circle, particular ...

and

Pablo Picasso Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist and Scenic design, theatre designer who spent most of his adult life in France. One of the most influential artists of the 20th ce ...

. She was featured in two shows in 1941 in the Wakefield Bookshop gallery. As well as she had three solo exhibits in 1973 and a book published of her work in 1990. * Emmy Bridgwater (1906–1999), English artist and poet associated with the

Surrealist Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to ...

movement. *

Leonora Carrington Mary Leonora Carrington (6 April 191725 May 2011) was a British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, and novelist. She lived most of her adult life in Mexico City and was one of the last surviving participants in the surrealist movement of ...

(1917–2011), British-born Mexican Surrealist painter. She met the Surrealist

Max Ernst Max Ernst (2 April 1891 – 1 April 1976) was a German (naturalised American in 1948 and French in 1958) painter, sculptor, printmaker, graphic artist, and poet. A prolific artist, Ernst was a primary pioneer of the Dada movement and Surrealis ...

in 1937, and had a painful and complicated relationship with him. Much of her work is autobiographical. *

Ithell Colquhoun Ithell Colquhoun ( 9 October 1906 – 11 April 1988) was a British painter, occultist, poet and author. Stylistically her artwork was affiliated with surrealism. In the late 1930s, Colquhoun was part of the British Surrealist Group before ...

(1906–1988), British Surrealist painter and author. * Leonor Fini (1907–1996), born in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

and raised in

Trieste Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into prov ...

, met the Surrealists in 1936 but never officially joined. She paints startling images, often with sphinxes or apparitions. * Jane Graverol (1905–1985), Belgian surrealist painter. *

Valentine Hugo Valentine Hugo (1887–1968) was a French artist and writer. She was born Valentine Marie Augustine Gross, only daughter to Auguste Gross and Zélie Démelin, in Boulogne-sur-Mer. She is best known for her work with the Russian ballet and with th ...

(1887–1968), illustrator and married to

Jean Hugo Jean Hugo (19 November 1894 – 21 June 1984) was a painter, illustrator, theatre designer and author. He was born in Paris and died in his home at the Mas de Fourques, near Lunel, France. Brought up in a lively artistic environment, he began ...

, she participated in the

movement between 1930 and 1936. * Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), Mexican painter claimed by Breton as surrealist, though Kahlo herself rejected the label. * Rita Kernn-Larsen (1904–1998), Danish painter. * Greta Knutson (1899–1983), Swedish artist and writer who pursued surrealism while married to

Tristan Tzara Tristan Tzara (; ; born Samuel or Samy Rosenstock, also known as S. Samyro; – 25 December 1963) was a Romanian and French avant-garde poet, essayist and performance artist. Also active as a journalist, playwright, literary and art critic, comp ...

in the 1930s. *

Jacqueline Lamba Jacqueline Lamba (17 November 1910 – 20 July 1993) was a French painter and surrealist artist. She was married to the surrealist André Breton. Biography Lamba was born in the Paris suburb of Saint-Mandé, on 17 November 1910 (contrary to a ...

(1910–1993), French painter, married (1934–1943) to André Breton. *

Maruja Mallo Maruja Mallo (born Ana María Gómez González; 5 January 1902 – 6 February 1995) was a Spanish surrealist painter. She is considered an artist of the Generation of 1927 within the Spanish avant-garde movement. Biography Mallo was the fourt ...

(1902–1995), Galician Spanish avant-garde artist whose painting in the 1930s was influenced by Surrealism. * Margaret Modlin (1927–1998), American surrealist painter, sculptor and photographer who spent most of her adult life in Spain. * Grace Pailthorpe (1883–1971), British surrealist painter, surgeon, and psychology researcher. *

Alice Rahon Alice Phillipot (Alice Rahon) (8 June 1904 – September 1987) was a French/Mexican poet and artist whose work contributed to the beginning of abstract expression in Mexico. She began as a surrealist poet in Europe but began painting in Mexico. ...

(1904–1987), French/Mexican poet and artist. Her work contributed to the beginning of Abstract Expressionism in Mexico. *

Edith Rimmington Edith Rimmington (1902 – 1986), was an English artist, poet and photographer associated with the Surrealist movement. Biography She was born in Leicester and studied at the Brighton School of Art. Whilst in Sussex she met the artist Leslie R ...

(1902–1986), British artist and photographer * Penelope Rosemont (born 1942), writer and painter joined the surrealist group in Paris, 1965 and met Andre Breton. In Chicago she and her friends organized an active surrealist group linked with the Breton group. Her painting was shown in the 1986 Venice Biennale. *

Kay Sage Katherine Linn Sage (June 25, 1898 – January 8, 1963), usually known as Kay Sage, was an American Surrealist artist and poet active between 1936 and 1963. A member of the Golden Age and Post-War periods of Surrealism, she is mostly recognized f ...

(1898–1963), began painting surrealist landscapes in the late 1930s, met and married fellow surrealist

Yves Tanguy Raymond Georges Yves Tanguy (January 5, 1900 – January 15, 1955), known as just Yves Tanguy (, ), was a French surrealist painter. Biography Tanguy, the son of a retired navy captain, was born January 5, 1900, at the Ministry of Naval Aff ...

in 1940.Heller, Nancy G., ''Women Artists: An Illustrated History'', Abbeville Press, Publishers, New York 1987 *

Ángeles Santos Torroella Ángeles Santos Torroella (7 November 1911 – 3 October 2013) was a Catalan Spanish surrealist painter. Born in Portbou, Catalonia, she was the sister of the poet and art critic Rafael Santos Torroella. She married the painter Emili Grau Sa ...

(1911–2013), Catalan-Spanish painter with an interesting surrealist early stage. *

Eva Švankmajerová Eva Švankmajerová (September 25, 1940 – October 20, 2005) was a Czech surrealist artist. She was born Eva Dvořáková. A native of the Czech town of Kostelec nad Černými lesy, she moved to Prague in 1958 to study at the Prague School of ...

(1940–2005), Czech painter, ceramicist and writer. She collaborated with her husband

Jan Švankmajer Jan Švankmajer (; born 4 September 1934) is a Czech filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeled surrealist known for his stop-motion animations and features, which have greatly influenced other artists such as Ter ...

on films such as '' Alice'', ''

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'' and '' Conspirators of Pleasure''. *

Dorothea Tanning Dorothea Margaret Tanning (25 August 1910 – 31 January 2012) was an American painter, printmaker, sculptor, writer, and poet. Her early work was influenced by Surrealism. Biography Dorothea Tanning was born and raised in Galesburg, Illin ...

(1910–2012), American painter, sculptor, printmaker, writer, and poet, whose early work was influenced by Surrealism. She became part of the circle of Surrealists in New York in the 1940s, and was married to fellow Surrealist

for 30 years. * Alina Szapocznikow (1926–1973), Polish sculptor and Holocaust survivor, who spent time in Paris in the late 1940s and was exposed to the work of Jean Arp and Alberto Giacometti, among other artists connected to Surrealism. Her sculptures evidenced an interest in the Surrealist distortion of the human body. * Bridget Bate Tichenor (1917–1990), born in Paris and of British descent, she later embraced Mexico as her home. Surrealist painter of

fantastic art Fantastic art is a broad and loosely defined art genre. It is not restricted to a specific school of artists, geographical location or historical period. It can be characterised by subject matter – which portrays non-realistic, mystical, my ...

in the school of magic realism and a fashion editor. *

Toyen Toyen (born Marie Čermínová; 21 September 1902 – 9 November 1980), was a Czech painter, drafter, and illustrator and a member of the surrealist movement. In 1923, the artist adopted the professional pseudonym Toyen. The name Toyen has b ...

(1902–1980),

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus' Places * Czech, ...

painter, draftsperson and illustrator and a member of the

movement. *

Remedios Varo María de los Remedios Alicia Rodriga Varo y Uranga (16 December 1908 – 8 October 1963) was a Spanish-born Mexican surrealist artist working in Spain, France, and Mexico. Early life Remedios Varo Uranga was born in Anglès, is a small town ...

(1908–1963), Catalan-Spanish surrealist painter who moved to Mexico, she was known for her dreamlike paintings of scientific apparatus. She was married to the Surrealist poet Benjamin Peret.Kaplan, Janet A. ''Unexpected Journeys: The Art and Life of Remedios Varo'', Abbeville Press, New York 1988

Sculptors

* Maria Martins (1894–1973), Brazilian visual artist known as “the sculptor of the tropics”. * Elisa Breton (1906–2000), Chilean-born French artist and writer. The third wife of André Breton, she made surrealist boxes. * Méret Oppenheim (1913–1985), German-Swiss sculptor and photographer, also famous as one of

Man Ray Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky; August 27, 1890 – November 18, 1976) was an American visual artist who spent most of his career in Paris. He was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to eac ...

's models. Her most famous sculpture is '' Object (Breakfast in Fur)'', a teacup, saucer and spoon completely encased in soft brown fur. * Mimi Parent (1924–2005), Canadian artist described by Breton as one of the "vital forces" of Surrealism. Her 'picture objects' were hybrids between painting and sculpture.

Photographers

* Claude Cahun (1894–1954), born Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob, French photographer and writer, associated with the surrealist movement. * Nusch Éluard (1906–1946), French photographer, performer and model. * Henriette Grindat (1923–1986), one of the few Swiss women to develop an interest in artistic photography, associating with André Breton and later collaborating with

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...

. *

Kati Horna Kati Horna (May 19, 1912 - October 19, 2000), born Katalin Deutsch, was a Hungarian-born Mexican photojournalist, Surrealism, surrealist photographer and teacher. She was born in Budapest, at the time part of the Austria-Hungary, Austrian-Hungaria ...

(1912–2000), born Kati Deutsch, Hungarian-born Mexican photojournalist, surrealist photographer and teacher. * Ida Kar (1908–1974), Russian-born photographer who lived and worked in Paris,

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the Capital city, capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, List of ...

and London. *

Dora Maar Henriette Theodora Markovitch (22 November 1907 – 16 July 1997), known as Dora Maar, was a French photographer, painter, and poet. A romantic partner of Pablo Picasso, Maar was depicted in a number of Picasso's paintings, including his ''Portr ...

(1907–1997), Croatian-born French photographer who had a nine-year relationship with

. * Emila Medková (1928–1985), Czech photographer who began producing surrealistic works in 1947, above all remarkable documentary images of the urban environment. *

Lee Miller Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, Lady Penrose (April 23, 1907 – July 21, 1977), was an American photographer and photojournalist. She was a fashion model in New York City in the 1920s before going to Paris, where she became a fashion and fine art ...

(1907–1977), American photographer, photojournalist and model. *

Marcel Moore Marcel Moore (born Suzanne Alberte Malherbe, 19 July 1892 – 19 February 1972) was a French illustrator, designer, and photographer. She, along with her romantic and creative partner Claude Cahun, was a surrealist writer and photographer. Ear ...

(1892–1972), born Suzanne Alberte Malherbe, French illustrator, designer, writer and photographer. *

Francesca Woodman Francesca Stern Woodman (April 3, 1958 – January 19, 1981) was an American photographer best known for her black and white pictures featuring either herself or female models. Many of her photographs show women, naked or clothed, blurred (due to ...

(1958–1981), American photographer who explored the relationship between the body and its surroundings.

Filmmakers

Germaine Dulac Germaine Dulac (; born Charlotte Elisabeth Germaine Saisset-Schneider; 17 November 1882 – 20 July 1942)Flitterman-Lewis 1996 was a French filmmaker, film theorist, journalist and critic. She was born in Amiens and moved to Paris in early chil ...

(1882–1942), French filmmaker, who directed '' The Seashell and the Clergyman'' in 1928. * Nelly Kaplan (1931–2020), Argentine-born French "neo-surrealist" filmmaker and writer.

Fashion designers

* Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973), Italian fashion designer, a colleague of, friend of, and collaborator with

Salvador Dalí Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, Marquess of Dalí of Púbol (; ; ; 11 May 190423 January 1989) was a Spanish surrealist artist renowned for his technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and the striking and bizarre images in ...

and Leonor Fini, among others.
, ''Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli'', (2003)

Writers

* Aase Berg (born 1967), Swedish poet and critic, among the founding members of the Stockholm Surrealist Group in 1986. * Lise Deharme (1898–1980), French writer associated with the Surrealist movement. * Irène Hamoir (1906–1994), Belgian novelist and poet. * Joyce Mansour (1928–1986), Egyptian-French poet. She first encountered Surrealism in

, but moved to Paris in 1953. *

Olga Orozco Olga Orozco (17 March 1920 – 15 August 1999) (real name Olga Noemí Gugliotta Orozco) was an Argentine poet. She was a recipient of the FIL Award. Biography She was born in Toay, La Pampa, to Carmelo Gugliotta, a Sicilian from Capo d'Orland ...

(1920–1999), Argentine poet of the Surrealistic 'Tercera Vanguardia' generation. * Alejandra Pizarnik (1936–1972), Argentine poet heavily influenced by Surrealism. * Valentine Penrose (1898–1978), French surrealist poet, author and collagist. * Gisèle Prassinos (1920–2015), French writer of Greek heritage, associated with Surrealism since her first publication at the age of 14. * Guia Risari (born 1971), Italian writer, novelist, essayist, translator. * Penelope Rosemont (born 1942), American writer, painter, photographer, collagist and cofounder of the Chicago Surrealist Group. Her edited anthology '' Surrealist Women'' demonstrated the breadth of women's contribution to surrealism. * Ginka Steinwachs (born 1942), German scholar and writer. Her doctoral thesis on André Breton was published as ''Mythologie des Surrealismus''. * Blanca Varela (1926–2009), Peruvian poet.

Octavio Paz Octavio Paz Lozano (March 31, 1914 – April 19, 1998) was a Mexican poet and diplomat. For his body of work, he was awarded the 1977 Jerusalem Prize, the 1981 Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the 1982 Neustadt International Prize for Literature, and ...

characterized her poetry as in the "spiritual lineage" of surrealism. * Haifa Zangana (born 1950), Iraqi writer active in surrealist activity in London. * Unica Zürn (1916–1970), German writer and artist. She wrote anagram poetry, exhibited automatic drawing and collaborated with

Hans Bellmer Hans Bellmer (13 March 1902 – 24 February 1975) was a German artist, best known for the life-sized pubescent female dolls he produced in the mid-1930s. Historians of art and photography also consider him a Surrealist photographer. Biography B ...

as his photographic model.

Others

* Sheila Legge (1911–1949), Surrealist performance artist, best known for her 1936

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson comm ...

performance for the opening of

London International Surrealist Exhibition The International Surrealist Exhibition was held from 11 June to 4 July 1936 at the New Burlington Galleries, near Savile Row in London's Mayfair, England. Organisers The exhibition was organised by committees from England, France, Belgium, Sca ...

, posing in an ensemble inspired by a Salvador Dalí painting, with her head completely obscured by a

flower arrangement Floral design or flower arrangement is the art of using plant materials and flowers to create an eye-catching and balanced composition or display. Evidence of refined floristry is found as far back as the culture of ancient Egypt. Professionally ...

Bibliography

* Allmer, Patricia (ed.) (2009) ''Angels of Anarchy: Women Artists and Surrealism'', London and Manchester: Prestel and Manchester Art Gallery. * Allmer, Patricia (ed.) (2016) ''Intersections: Women Artists/Surrealism/Modernism'', Manchester: Manchester University Press. * Allmer, Patricia (2016) ‘Revising the Canon: Feminist Interventions’, in ''Blackwell Companion to Dada and Surrealism'', ed. David Hopkins, London: Blackwell. * Rosemont, Penelope, edited and introduced. (1998) “Surrealist Women: An International Anthology”, Austin: University of Texas Press.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:+ Woman Art history Surrealist artists