Leonora Carrington

Leonora Carrington (born 1917 in Clayton-le-Woods, Lancashire, England; died 2011 in Mexico City) was a British-born Surrealist painter and writer who spent most of her adult life in Mexico. Known for her enigmatic and fantastical imagery, Carrington’s work draws heavily on myth, alchemy, Celtic folklore, the occult, and feminist themes. She primarily worked in oil on canvas but also produced sculpture, writing, and set design. Her paintings are populated with hybrid creatures, ethereal figures, and dream-like landscapes that reflect her deep interest in mysticism and psychological transformation. Carrington’s work is held in prominent institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Tate (London), and Museo de Arte Moderno (Mexico City). In recent decades, her recognition has grown substantially, particularly within feminist art history, leading to major retrospectives and scholarly reassessments. Although less frequently traded than some of her male Surrealist contemporaries, her market has become increasingly active and international, with her works achieving strong results at auction, signalling a rising and increasingly liquid market status.