Surrealism is an artistic and cultural movement that emerged in Europe after World War I. Surrealism aims to let the unconscious mind express itself by way of illogical and startling imagery. This experimental design style most often includes juxtaposing forces and elements of surprise.

Surrealism was most popular in the early to mid-twentieth century in forms of media like painting, filmmaking, and photography, but it can still be seen online. A surrealist design may be best for websites that aim to be experimental and imaginative. Creative industries like music and art may be best suited to such an inventive and unique design style. While more conservative industries should most likely stay away from such a visually jarring and sometimes abrasive style.

So whether this is your first time seeing surrealist web design, or you’re well acquainted with the movement, here are some surrealist designs to inspire your next project.

“Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision.”

- Salvador Dalí

by Camille Piot

by Gavin Campbell-Wilson

by Irine Miller

by Tanya Shegol

by Tanya Shegol

by Payal Sonawane

by Netaly Reshef

by Tanya Shegol

by Carlos R Andujar

by Ramy Wafaa

Final Words

I hope these ten surrealist-inspired websites motivate you to create your own surrealist designs. This experimental and odd style is definitely not for everyone, but it is still influential to this day in traditional mediums and on the internet. Designing your own surrealist sites may be just the thing you need to explore the limits of your creativity and try something new.

Since surrealism is such an unrestrained artistic movement, it can be challenging to give it an exact definition. By studying specific examples of surrealism in art and web design, you get a better grasp of its core elements and how you can use them in your own designs to push yourself to your creative limits.