1917–2011
Leonora Carrington was a British-born Mexican artist and writer, known for her surrealist paintings and deeply imaginative literary works. Born into a wealthy family in Lancashire, England, she defied expectations by rejecting a conventional life and pursuing art. She studied painting in London before becoming involved with the Surrealist movement in Paris, where she formed a passionate relationship with the artist Max Ernst.
Her time in Europe was marked by upheaval; during World War II, Ernst was arrested by the Nazis, and Carrington suffered a mental breakdown, leading to her internment in a psychiatric institution in Spain. This traumatic experience deeply influenced her work, both in painting and writing. After escaping to Mexico via Lisbon and New York, she found refuge in a vibrant artistic community that included Remedios Varo and Kati Horna.
Carrington’s art is characterized by dreamlike imagery, fantastical creatures, and deeply personal symbolism, often drawing on Celtic mythology, alchemy, and magical realism. Her paintings, such as The Temptation of St. Anthony and Self-Portrait (Inn of the Dawn Horse), feature mystical, otherworldly narratives. Her literary works, including The Hearing Trumpet, reflect the same surreal sensibility, blending humor, feminism, and the bizarre.
A fiercely independent thinker, Carrington remained a vital creative force throughout her life, challenging artistic and societal conventions. Her legacy endures in both visual art and literature, cementing her as one of the most significant surrealist figures of the 20th century. She passed away in Mexico City in 2011, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
