Objects of Desire: Surrealism and Design 1924 – Today

Presented until 19th February 2023 at the Design Museum in London, this fantastic exhibition explores Surrealism’s rapport with design. Through some of the movement’s most important artists, designers, couturiers from 1920s to today, the exhibition showcases the legacy of one of the most influential artistic outbursts of the 20th century.

Curated with Vitra Design Museum, the show, articulated across four distinctive rooms, explores design from the birth of Surrealism to the current era. It spans the full spectrum of media; think Eames chairs, Le Corbusier’s paintings, Salvador Dalí’s iconic painting The Birth of Narcissus on loan from Tate, his collaboration with Disney, brought to life by the studios in 2003, Meret Oppenheim’s fur bracelet, Fornasetti’s plates from the Archives, Magritte’s drawings and Vogue cover, to Tim Walker’s portrait of Tilda Swinton.

The exhibition examines the intricacies of this pioneering 20th century’s movements on design, functionality, and objects. It brings together the best in Surrealist design, from furniture, interior design, fashion, photography and world-renowned artworks from Surrealist legends including Dora Maar, Man Ray, Leonora Carrington and Lee Miller, through to contemporary artists. 

Other highlights explore the legacy of Surrealism through amazing displays of Björk’s videos and Daniel Roseberry’s 2022 collection for Schiaparelli. Objects of Desire: Surrealism and Design 1924 – Today remains one of London’s best shows.