Art is the Solution

When you hear the word Surrealism, you probably picture Salvador Dalí and his melting clocks or René Magritte and his pipe. However—although most of the most famous Surrealists were men—there is a rich history of female Surrealists that is often ignored by art education. Surrealist art seeks to bring the invisible things in life— thoughts, ideas, the human psyche— to the surface, expressing the spiritual and emotional worlds. So, today, I want to bring attention to some of my favorite female Surrealists and the weird and wonderful worlds they created through their painting. Bridget Bate Tichenor - Bridget Bate Tichenor came to art late in life. She spent most of her adult life as a model, fashion editor, and socialite in Paris and New York City. However, in the1950s she abandoned this life in order to seek spiritual fulfillment in Mexico, where she spent the rest of her life. While living there, Bate Tichenor began to create Surrealist paintings. She produced an oeuvre of fantastical ...

Birthday Source: Philadelphia Museum of Art It’s hard to define Surrealist art because each and every Surrealist artist had an incredibly unique style. Yet, even so, American Surrealist Dorothea Tanning had an approach to art that was singular, even by Surrealist standards. Like many artists of her cohort, Tanning lived an incredible life. She lived to the age of 101, living through both World Wars and a number of other world-changing events. Tanning continued to create art until the end of her life, producing paintings, sculptures, and writings, including poetry. Her self-portrait entitled Birthday is one of her most famous paintings, and it is often cited as the first example of Tanning’s Surrealist style. The painting made Tanning’s work famous after it was chosen by painter Max Ernst to be included in an exhibition of work by female painters. The piece shows Tanning in a strange costume that seems to be growing out of her body. A strange, furry animal stands at her feet as she...