Step into a world where imagination overrides convention in Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100.
A Century of Surrealist Vision
The Philadelphia Art Museum is presenting Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100, a sweeping survey of surrealism from its 1920s inception to contemporary reinterpretations. On view through February 16, 2026, the exhibition features nearly 200 works by over 70 artists, offering a comprehensive overview of a movement dedicated to intuition, wonder, and the power of the unconscious.
Themes and Sections
Curated by Matthew Affron and Danielle Cooke, the exhibition is organized into six chronological and thematic sections:
- Waking Dream – Early Paris experiments with form and technique.
- Natural History – Fascination with the mysteries of nature.
- Desire – Exploration of eroticism and human longing.
- Premonition of War – Imagery of monsters and creatures born from global unrest.
- Exiles – Surrealists who fled Europe during World War II, a section unique to Philadelphia.
- Magic Art – Mid-century turn toward mysticism, spirituality, and esoterica.
Iconic Works on Display
Visitors can expect seminal pieces from René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Lee Miller, Hans Bellmer, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and Mark Rothko, among others. The exhibition not only celebrates the historical breadth of surrealism but also highlights its ongoing influence in contemporary art and imagination.
Experience Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100 at the Philadelphia Art Museum:
Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
On View Until: February 16, 2026
