What is Biomorphism?

Biomorphism is an artistic approach using organic, flowing shapes that suggest living organisms without depicting specific creatures. Artists like Hans Arp, Henry Moore, and Joan Miro created biomorphic forms that evoke cells, amoebas, or body parts while remaining abstract. The style became prominent in Surrealism, where biomorphic shapes could suggest unconscious bodily awareness and primal life forces. These forms appear to grow, pulse, or metamorphose, embodying Surrealism’s interest in transformation and the boundaries between categories. Abstract Surrealism frequently employs biomorphic vocabulary. The approach influenced mid-century design and continues in contemporary art, offering a visual language between pure abstraction and figurative representation.