Is Surrealism the same as Fantasy art?

Surrealism and Fantasy art overlap but differ in origins and intentions. Surrealism emerged as an avant-garde movement accessing the unconscious mind through specific techniques and psychological theory. Fantasy art depicts imaginary worlds, creatures, and narratives drawn from mythology, literature, and conscious imagination. Surrealism often depicts the ordinary made strange; Fantasy often depicts the extraordinary as its own reality. However, both create imagery impossible in waking reality, and contemporary practice often blurs these boundaries. Visionary Art, Dark Art, and Imaginative Realism draw on both traditions. The key distinction: Surrealism emphasizes psychological revelation while Fantasy emphasizes world-building and narrative. Many artists featured on Surrealism Today work across both traditions.