Dreams and Reality: Why Surrealist Illustration is Trending in 2024
Surrealism has always been about pushing boundaries—of logic, of form, of reality itself. And in 2024, surrealist illustration is having a serious moment. It’s strange, it’s beautiful, it’s deeply imaginative—and right now, it’s everywhere.
Why? Because we’re living in a time where the line between reality and fantasy feels blurrier than ever. And when reality feels heavy, surrealism offers a form of escape, commentary, and reflection all rolled into one. Let’s take a look at why surrealist illustration is booming right now, and how you might bring elements of it into your own work.
A Digital Renaissance
With illustration moving further into the digital realm, surrealism has found a perfect home. Digital tools now allow illustrators to create the kind of complex, layered visuals that would have been almost impossible with traditional media alone. Platforms like Procreate and Photoshop open the door to limitless possibilities—floating figures, impossible perspectives, dream-like textures.
And then there’s visibility. Platforms like Instagram, Behance, and Pinterest have made it easier than ever for surrealist artists to share their work with global audiences. What was once a niche style now finds itself in editorial spreads, advertising campaigns, packaging, and motion design.
Surrealism is no longer a quiet subculture—it’s mainstream, and it's thriving.
A Mirror to the Madness
In a world that often feels surreal, it makes sense that surrealist illustration is resonating so strongly. It allows artists to comment on the absurdity, tension, and contradictions of modern life in ways that feel more truthful than realism ever could.
Through unexpected juxtapositions, impossible scenes, and dreamlike symbolism, surrealist art can capture the things we’re all feeling but can’t always articulate. It’s playful, but it’s also powerful—a way of holding up a mirror to the world and saying, “See? This is strange.”
An Escape with Substance
It’s no coincidence that surrealist illustration is trending at a time when mental health is finally being given the attention it deserves. These dreamlike, otherworldly scenes offer more than just aesthetic appeal—they give us a chance to escape, reflect, and feel.
There’s something therapeutic about looking at a world untethered from logic. In a culture that’s constantly online, constantly productive, constantly on, surrealist art reminds us that imagination is still a valuable, vital space. For both artists and audiences, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Inspiration in Unexpected Places
One of the most exciting parts of this trend is how varied the work is. Surrealist illustration today is influenced by everything from old-school Dali to modern digital art, editorial illustration, and motion graphics. You’ll see it in album covers, ad campaigns, murals, and fashion.
And while traditional surrealism often leaned into dark or unsettling themes, 2024’s take on the trend includes humour, softness, and joy. It’s less about shock, and more about exploration.
Want to Try It? Start Here
If you're a designer or illustrator looking to experiment with surrealism, you don’t have to dive in headfirst. Start by incorporating surreal elements—floating objects, odd scale shifts, unexpected compositions—into your existing style.
Here are a few tools that can help you get started:
Procreate – My go-to for digital drawing. It’s powerful, portable, and intuitive.
Adobe Photoshop – Perfect for layering, photo manipulation, and building complex compositions.
Affinity Designer – A great vector-based alternative to Illustrator with a strong feature set.
Adobe Fresco – A hybrid tool for natural media painting and vector work.
Look to artists like Nicole Rifkin, Ori Toor, or Vincent Mahé for inspiration. Their work bridges reality and imagination in a way that’s playful, thought-provoking, and beautifully designed.
Wrapping Up
Surrealist illustration is more than a trend—it’s a visual language that speaks to our current moment. It invites us to think more deeply, imagine more wildly, and feel more freely.
As we continue through 2024, this style will only keep growing—shaped by new tools, new voices, and new ways of seeing the world. So if you’ve been feeling the pull to create something a little strange, a little bold, a little unexpected? Now’s the time.
Let your imagination lead the way.
