MoMA Explores Surrealist Book as Art Form in 'Tomorrow Lives in Mirrors'
From October 4, 2026, to January 23, 2027, the Museum of Modern Art in New York will host 'The Surrealist Book: Tomorrow Lives in Mirrors.' This exhibition delves into how Surrealists transformed the book into an art form, showcasing rare artists' books from the Helen and Sam Zell Collection, many of which are being displayed for the first time. It examines Surrealist publishing from the 1920s through the 1960s, featuring notable figures such as André Breton, Claude Cahun, Salvador Dalí, and Unica Zürn. Highlighted works include Éluard's 'Défense de savoir' (1928), Cahun's 'Aveux non avenus' (1930), Dalí's part in 'L'immaculée Conception,' and Zürn's 'Orakel und Spektakel' (1960), illustrating the innovative spirit of Surrealism in bookmaking.
Key facts
- Exhibition dates: October 4, 2026 – January 23, 2027 at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
- Features rare artists' books from the Helen and Sam Zell Collection, many presented at MoMA for the first time.
- Artists and writers include André Breton, Claude Cahun, Salvador Dalí, Paul Éluard, Max Ernst, Toyen, and Unica Zürn.
- Paul Éluard's 'Défense de savoir' (1928), with a drawing by Giorgio de Chirico, was rebound in 1936 by Georges Hugnet and Louis Christy with shattered lead glass.
- Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore's 'Aveux non avenus' (1930) combines writing with photomontages.
- Toyen and Jindřich Heisler's 'Z kasemat spánku: Realisované básně' (1940) uses photographs mounted on metallic paper.
- Unica Zürn's 'Orakel und Spektakel, IV. Buch: Anagramme und Zeichnungen' (1960) incorporates torn and pasted papers, dried plant material, feathers, envelopes, a playing card, and thread-related objects.
- The exhibition traces Surrealist publishing from the 1920s through the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
Entities
Artists
- André Breton
- Claude Cahun
- Salvador Dalí
- Paul Éluard
- Max Ernst
- Toyen
- Unica Zürn
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Georges Hugnet
- Louis Christy
- Marcel Moore
- Jindřich Heisler
- Paul Bonet
- Jodi Hauptman
- Starr Figura
- Kolleen Ku
- Emma Kang
Institutions
- The Museum of Modern Art
- Helen and Sam Zell Collection
- New York Art Life
- Éluard-Dausse Collection
- MoMA Library
- The Robert Lehman Foundation
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Prague
- Czech Republic