A pioneering surrealist artist and writer, blending fantasy and mythology in vibrant paintings and novels, exploring the human condition and the world of dreams.
Leonora Carrington, a British-born, naturalized Mexican surrealist painter and novelist, is widely recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to the surrealist movement of the 1930s. As one of the last surviving participants of this revolutionary art movement, Carrington's work continues to inspire and captivate audiences with its dreamlike quality and feminist undertones.
Born on April 6, 1917, in Clayton-le-Woods, Lancashire, England, Carrington grew up in a wealthy Roman Catholic family. Her father, Harold Wylde Carrington, was a textile manufacturer, and her mother, Marie nee Moorhead, was from Ireland. The family's Gothic Revival mansion, Crookhey Hall, in Cockerham, had a profound impact on her imagination, influencing her later surrealist works.
Despite her father's initial disapproval, Carrington pursued her passion for art, studying at Mrs. Penrose's Academy of Art in Florence and later at the Chelsea School of Art in London. She then attended the Ozenfant Academy of Fine Arts, where she became familiar with the works of French modernist Amde Ozenfant.
Carrington's artistic style was largely influenced by her encounters with surrealist artists, including Paul luard, whom she met in Paris. Her work often featured fantastical creatures, mythological themes, and vivid dreamscapes, showcasing her unique blend of surrealism and magic realism.
In addition to her visual art, Carrington was a prolific novelist and short story writer. Her writing often explored themes of feminism, mysticism, and personal freedom, reflecting her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated art world. Her most famous novel, The Hearing Trumpet, published in 1974, is a surrealist masterpiece that has been translated into multiple languages.
Carrington was also a founding member of the women's liberation movement in Mexico during the 1970s, actively promoting women's rights and challenging patriarchal norms through her art and writing.
Leonora Carrington's pioneering work has inspired generations of artists, writers, and feminists. Her unique blend of surrealism and magic realism has influenced contemporary authors such as Angela Carter and Margaret Atwood. Her advocacy for women's rights and personal freedom has paved the way for future feminist movements.
Today, Carrington's art and literature continue to captivate audiences worldwide, serving as a testament to her innovative spirit and artistic genius.
Through her remarkable life and work, Leonora Carrington has left an indelible mark on the art world, cementing her place as one of the most important surrealist artists and novelists of the 20th century.
Born in 1891
A pioneering figure in Surrealism, creating dreamlike, fantastical works that blurred reality and the subconscious, influencing generations of artists.
Born in 1898
A Belgian surrealist painter who challenged perceptions by depicting everyday objects in unexpected contexts, creating thought-provoking and witty visual paradoxes.
Born in 1904
A renowned surrealist master of bizarre, dream-like paintings and sculptures that blur reality and fantasy, known for iconic works like "The Persistence of Memory" and "The Elephants".
Born in 1896
French poet and author who founded Surrealism, a cultural movement that explored the subconscious and the world of dreams. He wrote novels, poems, and essays that continue to influence art and literature today.
Born in 1907
A Mexican artist who created vibrant, emotional, and often unsettling paintings that explored her own experiences with physical and emotional pain, as well as her cultural heritage.
Born in 1886
A prominent figure in Mexican muralism, creating large-scale public artworks that often depicted the country's history and social issues, blending realism with symbolism.
Born in 1914
A Mexican poet and diplomat who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990 for his work that explores the intersection of poetry, philosophy, and politics. He's known for his lyrical and introspective style that explores the human condition.
Born in 1889
A Chilean poet and educator who was the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, known for her passionate and introspective poetry that explores themes of love, nature, and social justice.