• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Artists
  • About
  • Submit Art
  • Submit Video
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Cart

Surrealism Today

Contemporary surreal, visionary and pop surreal art

Shop
  • Home
  • Painting
  • Artists
  • Digital Art
  • Collage
  • Video and Cinema
  • Submit Art
  • Store
  • Cart

SurrealismToday is an educational website dedicated to promoting the best surrealist and imaginative artists working today. We are reader-supported, and if you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to offset some costs of running the site. Learn more

Mystical and Occult

Return of the Salvador Dalí Tarot

Last Modified December 13, 2019 Leave a Comment

When most people think about Salvador Dalí, the first thing that comes to mind is likely his mind-bending work as one of the vanguards of surrealism—melting clocks, spindly-limbed monsters, bizarre tableaus that tread the line between dreamscape and nightmare… either that or his trademark mustache. 

However, Dalí’s oeuvre is not simply limited to oil paintings; throughout his career, he dabbled in a wide variety of eccentric and surprising formats. He made sculptures, cookbooks, wine guides, designed sets for plays and operas, and even collaborated on an animated film with Walt Disney. One of the most unique undertakings of his career though is undoubtedly the infamous Dalí tarot deck, which has been a highly-sought and hard to find collector’s item since its original release in the mid-80s. Well, good news: the Dalí tarot deck is back, and it’s better than ever.

Return of the Dali Tarot Deck

Taschen, the publisher behind a number of high-end hardcover volumes of Dalí’s work, has recently re-released the Dalí tarot deck as a beautiful 78-card box set. Included with the deck itself is an insightful companion book by author and tarot scholar Johannes Fiebig, which delves into Dalí’s life and process while completing his tarot series. The book also provides detailed information on the history of tarot, explanations of what the individual cards mean, and instructions on how to perform your own readings with the deck. The addition of Fiebig’s book elevates the previous version of the deck by making it one of those rare art objects that are not only inspiring to behold, but also functional to use.

Although it’s easy to imagine Dalí deciding to delve into tarot cards on a psychedelic whim, his original impetus for creating the deck is perhaps even stranger than the fact that he made one at all. The deck was commissioned by famed film producer Albert Broccoli as a prop for the classic 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die, starring Roger Moore and Jane Seymour. In the film, Seymour plays a psychic medium called Solitaire who uses tarot cards to track the legendary MI6 spy James Bond. Legend has it that after Dalí began working on the deck it became clear that his fees would be too high for the production to afford, so Broccoli decided to scrap the idea and the tarot deck prop was cut from the film.

Thankfully, Dalí’s wife Gala encouraged his interest in mysticism and the occult, and he became so enamored with the process of creating the tarot deck that he continued to work on it for more than a decade. 

Many of the cards themselves feature Dalí’s interpretations of classic works of art, such as Vincenzo Camuccini’s The Death of Julius Caesar, which stands in for the Ten of Swords. As a tribute to Gala, he included her likeness in the deck as the figure of the Empress, which is quite an appropriate choice, since the Empress represents the creation of life, romance, and art. Dalí also included himself in the deck as the figure of the Magician, which represents self-confidence and signifies success in upcoming ventures. When he finally completed the tarot deck in 1984, the original limited edition was lauded by tarot readers and Dalí fans alike and quickly sold out, so it seems that his casting of himself as the magician was indeed a prophetic choice… fated by the cards, perhaps?

For a particularly surreal tarot experience, and as a supplement to Fiebig’s guide, try combining the Dalí tarot deck with surrealist filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky’s series of instructional tarot YouTube videos, in which he provides in-depth lessons on the history and practice of tarot reading, as well as personalized readings for followers of his channel. Jodorowsky and Dalí were contemporaries, and Dalí was even slated to appear in Jodorowsky’s ill-fated attempt to make a big-budget version of the sci-fi classic Dune. Although there’s no evidence that the two surrealist visionaries ever discussed their mutual interest in tarot, at least not on record, it’s fun to imagine what that conversation would have been like; one has to assume it would have been either extremely profound or completely incomprehensible.

Until the new Taschen edition, which was released this past November, original copies of the deck were extremely hard to come by, selling for upwards of $500 on online auction websites like eBay. The 2019 version of the deck is much more affordable, retailing on Taschen’s website for $60 USD. It makes a perfect gift for any lover of Dalí’s artwork, or just tarot cards in general. So if you want to take a surreal glimpse into your future, or just have some fun with your open-minded, art-loving friends, there’s no better way to do so than with a tarot deck designed by the inimitable Salvador Dalí.

Surrealism meets Symbolism in Salvador Dalí’s tarot deck

Combining the occult with his own unmistakable sensibility, Dalí’s tarot is a pastiche of old-world art, surrealism, kitsch, Christian iconography and Greek and Roman sculpture.

— openculture.com

Deck of 78 tarot cards with booklet in a box, 7.4 x 13 in., 184 pages

Pre-Order Dali’s Tarot Deck.

Further Reading:

Salvador Dalí’s Tarot Cards Will Tell Your Surreal Future
Salvador Dalí’s Surreal Tarot Card Designs from the 1970’s to be Released as a Complete Deck
Salvador Dalí’s surreal tarot cards from the ’70s and ’80s being reissued

Filed Under: Book Tagged With: Alegorical, Conceptual, Figurative, Illustration, Juxtaposition, Mysticism, Painterly, Psychological

Genres: Mystical and Occult, Surrealism

Waone (Interesni Kazki) Drawings

Last Modified October 29, 2018 Leave a Comment

Waone is an Artist / Muralist from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Transcendental moment drawing
"Labyrinth" Ink drawing
Temple of Equinox - Ink drawing
Edge of Time - ink drawing
Timeless Moment
Ilulsive moment of time
Stargazing
Dionis in his boat
Beta to Alpha transition
Kleos Aphtiton
Knowledge to Create the Worlds Ink drawing on paper 27x29 cm 2016
"On the edge" ink drawing. 21x30 cm
"Unknown melody" ink drawing on paper 30x50 cm. 2014
Prisoned mind. Drawing. Ink on paper. 16x21 cm
"Sky Ballad" Ink drawing on paper 35x25cm. 2014.
Meaningless Moment 25x35 cm Ink drawing on paper.
"In the land of myths" Ink drawing on paper 40x26cm, 2017
"Good shepherd" Ink drawing on paper. 29,5 x 53,5cm
"Plantae Carnivŏra" Ink drawing on paper 30x50 cm 2015
"The great naturalist" Ink drawing on paper, 48x35cm 2015
"Spark of life" ink drawing on paper. 50x30cm 2016

ARTIST STATEMENT

The main goal of my art is to find out who am I and explore the outside world.
Viewing through the lens of the creative process gives me the possibility
to shift the focus away from the vanity of common life and tap into stranger invisible world, the origin of the entire existence…

It was a long way started back in 1999 when I stepped on the streets with a spray can. During the next 18 years, I developed a fairy tale visual language, a visual storytelling with a transcendental ethereal form of contemporary muralism.

Inspired by the old master’s art I continue my evolution, I like to imitate the esthetic of antique book illustrations and old engravings in my murals, canvases, and drawings.

During the last 2 years, when street art became a mainstream, I decided to shift my focus on studio work, now contemporary and fine art scene looks more appropriate scene for my art.

waone.net
instagram.com/waone_interesnikazki/
waone.net/store/

Filed Under: Drawing Tagged With: Alegorical, Animals, Black and White, Conceptual, Figurative, Juxtaposition, Limited Color Palette, Psychological, Sci-fi

Genres: Mystical and Occult, Surrealism, Symbolism, Visionary Art

Boris Indrikov

Last Modified October 12, 2017 Leave a Comment

waiting_1998-boris indrikov
violina
vestnik
Universum - By Boris Indrikov
the_birth_of_sound_spiritus
predchuvstvie
sunrises_children
taboo_2
taboo
the_birth_of_sound_anima
the_birth_of_sound_mysterium
phoenix
not_possible
melody
lepidoptera
iris
noktyrn
alter_ego_diptych
commander
in_waiting
exchange
coffeya
call
europa
eola
angel-net
alter_ego_r
conversion
alter_ego_l

About Boris Indrikov

Boris Indrikov was born in Leningrad in 1967 and lives and works in Moscow. From 1991 to 1997 he was a book designer and worked as an illustrator for the popular science magazine “Chemistry and Life”. He has been a member of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia and The member of the International Federation of Artist ( IFA UNESCO) 1998.Has exhibited works at a number of shows in Russia and abroad (Art-Manezh 2002, 2003, 2012, ART-Salon 2007, Art Fair Tokyo 2013, Venezia 2014 and others). He currently works in painting, graphic design and small-form plastic. He works mainly in fantastic realism. His pictures are in the D`VASKO gallery (Russia), HORIZON gallery (Netherlands), and private collections in Russia, Sweden, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan and the United States. Less

Education:

… Picture – is a door into a parallel world. That is a world where all things are different. There are other laws, other lines and shapes.

This is my world. Maybe I came from there and I will come back …

… You took brushes and paints, came up to a canvas – from the other side of the canvas somebody has already looked forward to your first stroke, this is like a snake biting its own tail. By creating a picture, you complete another CREATION cycle of this world.

… Artist – is a mysterious creature, “God’s pipe”, agent, He is vibrating because of stream of information which is flowing through him. “… And he was trembling like a needle in the compass…”. There is feeling of creative itch and impatience, unembodied pregnancy, pangs and doubts about things that you have done, and, at the same time, you are full of pleasure from the process in itself.

It’s kind of the artist’s living…

Events:

2012 ART INTERNATIONAL Zurich 14th International Contemporary Art Fair, Switzerland
2012 Affordable Art Fair Brussels
2013 Art Fair Tokyo 2013
2013 Stars with Stars. Gall’Art Roma artists at “Estate Romana” – Isola del Cinema
2013 International Contemporary Art Show “Kaleidos”. Sant’Oreste Roma Museum
2014 VENEZIA, Galleria di Palazzo Priuli Bon . (July)
2015 35×35 art project – Copelouzos Family Art Museum (Grèce)

https://www.saatchiart.com/borisindrikov
https://www.facebook.com/borisindrikov.gallery/

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Alegorical, Conceptual, Figurative, Limited Color Palette, Mysticism, Nostalgia, Painterly, Victorian, Whimsical

Genres: Mystical and Occult, Surrealism

Bosch VR

Last Modified January 4, 2019 Leave a Comment

One of the world’s greatest paintings in virtual reality.

Fly through The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch on the back of a fish.

BOSCH VR is available for Android and iPhone smartphones (links to Stores) as an app.

Made ‘for Hieronymus’ by BDH to celebrate 500 years of the visionary genius. Published in collaboration with the Bosch500 Festival & Exhibition, Netherlands.

“A heavenly host of delights on the road to hell” – The Guardian

BOSCH VR is also available on iPad.

(link to iTunes).

Bosch VR Experience installation.

via BDH

Filed Under: Interactive, VR Tagged With: Figurative, Macabre, Monster, Mysticism, Painterly, Psychological, Religion

Genres: Dark Art, Mystical and Occult, Visionary Art

5 Amazing Surrealistic Things!!!

Last Modified June 15, 2017 Leave a Comment

Here is a short list of five surrealist things I am thinking about this week.

1. Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Endless Poetry

Through renowned father of the midnight movies Alejandro Jodorowsky’s intensely personal lens, Endless Poetry tells the story of his years spent as an aspiring poet in Chile in the 1940’s.

Against the wishes of his authoritarian father, the 20 year old Jodorowsky leaves home to pursue his dream of becoming a poet, and is introduced into the bohemian and artistic inner circle of Santiago where he meets Enrique Lihn, Stella Diaz Varín, Nicanor Parra, all unknown at the time, but who would later become driving forces of twentieth-century Hispanic literature.

Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Endless Poetry

2. Deep in the Mexican Jungle, One Man Created a Surrealist Paradise

Deep in the Mexican Jungle, One Man Created a Surrealist Paradise

“An English dandy with an abundant inheritance from the railroad industry, Edward James voraciously collected surrealist art, rare orchids, and parrots. He took up mysticism, rubbed elbows with Salvador Dali and Aldous Huxley, and fancied wearing ponchos sans pants.

To those who knew him, James was “the last of the great eccentrics.”

James’s outlandish nature, however, was best captured in his magnum opus: Las Pozas, a fantastical sculpture garden nestled deep in the Mexican jungle. Forged over the last 22 years of his life, what he called his “Surrealist Xanadu” would become one of the globe’s greatest curiosities.”

– Via Artsy

3. Naoto Hattori

Surrealist Cat Giraffe Creature by Naoto Hattori
Surrealist Dog Creature by Naoto Hattori
Surrealist Bird Creature by Naoto Hattori
Surrealist Cat Creature by Naoto Hattori
Surrealist Owl Creature by Naoto Hattori
Surrealist Neuron by Naoto Hattori

Part whimsical illustration, part surrealist creatures, part eye candy, but 100% awesome, we can’t take our eyes off of Hattori’s intricate artwork. We always come back to his strange unique creations.

naotohattori.com

4. ‘Torrey Pines’ tells autobiographical story through beautiful, surreal stop motion

“In “Torrey Pines,” the childhood of its director Clyde Petersen unfolds through beautiful, handmade stop motion animation. We see a pre-transition 12-year-old Petersen — a devoted Trekkie with an ever-present USS Enterprise T-shirt. He yearns to escape the humdrum life of his Southern California hometown, and he gets his wish when his schizophrenic mother takes him on a cross-country road trip. The film is an endearing blend of sweet anecdotes and surrealism, and the result is a story that feels warmly joyous.”

– Via DailyCal.org

5. FROM THE MOUTH OF SHADOWS: ON THE SURREALIST USE OF AUTOMATISM

by Kasper Opstrup
“From surrealism’s beginnings around a Parisian séance table, it oscillated between the occult and the political. One of its key methods, automatism, provided access to both the esoteric and the exoteric: it took form in the mid-19th century as a spiritualist technique for communicating with the other side while, simultaneously, this other side could address political issues as equal rights, de-colonisation and a utopian future with an authority coming from beyond the individual. By tracing the development of automatism, the article shows how automatism in surrealism became a call for both a re-orientation of life and an institutional re-organisation by becoming a divination tool for a future community looking back to hermeticism to find a way forward. The article argues that not only can surrealism fruitfully be understood in the light of an occult revival in reaction to crises but, additionally, that it marks the return of and a reaction to a kind of magical thinking in the modern – due to waning religious and socio-economic orthodoxies – that echoes eerily into our own big data contemporary of social medias where we tend to substitute equations with associations.”
http://ojs.statsbiblioteket.dk/index.php/nja/article/view/26405

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Mysticism, Nostalgia, Psychological

Genres: Conceptual Art, Lowbrow Art (Pop Surrealism), Mystical and Occult, Visionary Art

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

surrealistic distored figures

Surrealism Today is a blog covering contemporary and digital surrealism, visionary and fantastic art in an increasingly eclectic art world. More about Surrealism Today.

Featured Art By Vincent Fink

Learn Photoshop

Reader Submissions

Submit Art

Sponsored by:

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Shop Surrealism Today

Cart

Giraffe Party

Surreal Artists UNITE!!!

Popular Posts

17 Mind-Blowing Surreal Artists you Need to Follow on Instagram
Frank Moth
Christian Schloe Surreal Art Prints
Miles Johnston
Zdzislaw Beksinski surreal landscapes and abstract surrealism
Eugenia Loli Surrealist Vintage Collages
Jean Giraud (Moebius)
SLip: Surrealist Collage Artist

Featured Art for Sale (support this site)

boy with wolve heads emerging from his hoodie

woman on waves looking at Earth in Space

Visitor Poll:

- Step 1 of 2
A visitor poll.
Submit Art

Featured Artist:

Neil Gaiman Masterclass
  • Karen Lynch - Flamingo Playground
  • Patience
  • Karen Lynch – Let’s+take+a+trip+to+the+other+side
  • Karen Lynch - Love Times Infinity
  • Karen Lynch - Final Couple
  • Karen Lynch - Natural Wonders
  • Karen Lynch - Outdoor Living
  • Karen Lynch - Moon Bathing
  • Karen Lynch - Edge of the World
  • Karen Lynch – Cross+the+Ocean
  • Karen Lynch - Sky Garden
  • Karen Lynch - Depths of Blue
  • Karen Lynch – balcony-of-dreams
  • Karen Lynch - Cosmic Panorama
  • Wirelessly Connected to Eternity - by Frank Moth
  • God I've Missed You - by Frank Moth
  • Karen Lynch - Day Trip
  • Karen Lynch – Monday
  • Karen Lynch - Kiss The Sky
  • Karen Lynch – Summer+Skies
  • Karen Lynch - Comet
  • Karen Lynch – Kaleidoscope+Dreamers
  • Karen Lynch – Urban+Transportation
  • Karen Lynch - Desert Jewels
  • Karen Lynch – Prick
  • Karen Lynch – Baroque+Beach
  • Karen Lynch - Psychedelic Beach
  • Karen Lynch – Cotton+Candy+Sky
  • Karen Lynch – Blushing+Romance
  • Karen Lynch - Hotel Postcard
  • Epiphany
  • Karen Lynch - Living Universe
  • Karen Lynch - Moon Ritual
  • Karen Lynch – Wings
  • They Have Always Been Here - by Frank Moth
  • Karen Lynch – Shasta+Sunset
  • Karen Lynch – Descending+in+Pink
  • Karen Lynch - Saturn Spa
  • Roots - by Frank Moth
  • Karen Lynch – The+Bridge
  • Karen Lynch – Sea+Change
  • Karen Lynch – serenade-to-saturn
  • Karen Lynch – Sands+of+Jupiter
  • Karen Lynch- Yeehah
  • Karen Lynch - The Big Picture
  • Karen Lynch - Desert Eclipse
  • Monochrome Savior - by Frank Moth
  • Karen Lynch - Moon Dream
  • Karen Lynch - Vanished+Empires
  • Karen Lynch – odyssey
  • Karen Lynch - Cosmic Waters
  • Karen Lynch - King Park
  • Karen Lynch - Heaven's End

Surreal Prints for Sale

Footer

About

Surrealism Today is an educational website established by artists, for artists. Our mission is to discover & promote the greatest surrealist and imaginative artists working today, and to help connect those artists to their fans, audiences, and collectors. If you're an artist, painter, collage, pop-surrealism and lowbrow, digital, visionary, mystical, occult or fantastic art, feel free to connect.

The Dispatch

Surreal Art direct to your inbox

For Artists

  • Submit Images
  • Submit a Video
  • Contact
  • Setting up your Artist Website
  • Request Content Takedown / Update
Submit Art
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refunds & Returns
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Request Takedown

Website Design Copyright © 2021 Surrealism Today.
All Artwork Copyright © Their Respective Artists.