Surrealism was born in October of 1924 when French poet and critic André Breton published the Surrealist Manifesto, forever staking claim to the term coined almost a decade prior by Guillaume Apollinaire in the program notes for a Ballets Russes production. Breton defined the style as “pure psychic automatism,” and though the movement has in popular culture been long associated with Salvador Dali and his melting clocks, it’s so much more than that and very much alive today.

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

It’s strange to think that surrealism is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, considering it’s still relevant in fashion, art and design. Just look at Viktor & Rolf’s dreamy runway shows or the designs of Walter Van Beirendonck, not to mention the photography of Carlijn Jacobs. The “New Surrealism” is something that’s often talked about—but it wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Breton and his manifesto.

The Blanton Museum of Art’s “Long Live Surrealism! 1924-Today” is both a retrospective and a testament to the movement’s lasting legacy, with seventy works by surrealist artists like Man Ray (who used his camera to dream out loud, so to speak), Rene Magritte (who painted dreams that he had) and Max Ernst (who was really a........

© Observer