Alex Eagle Explores Surrealism's Enduring Appeal in Vogue Column

In a new Vogue column, London-based designer and creative director Alex Eagle examines Surrealism's relevance today, linking the 1920s art movement to contemporary design, fashion, and interiors. Eagle traces Surrealism's origins to André Breton's 1924 manifesto in Paris, which championed art rooted in the unconscious as a revolt against societal order. She highlights iconic works by Dalí, Magritte, and Meret Oppenheim, and connects the movement's spirit to current creators like Egyptian designer Laila Gohar, who calls minimalism "bloody boring," and jewelry designer Delfina Delettrez, who describes Surrealism as "desiring without logic." Eagle draws on the Venice Art Biennale, opened under the theme "In Minor Keys" curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, as a contemporary context. She references Peggy Guggenheim's Venetian home as a model for living with art unpretentiously. The column includes a curated shopping guide featuring items like Lié Studio's spiral earrings, Sophie Lou Jacobsen's coaster set, and Alaïa's triangle pants, illustrating Surrealist principles of distortion, juxtaposition, and sensory exploration. Eagle quotes Marie-Louise Scio of Il Pellicano, who notes that Surrealism "opens the door to emotion, fantasy, and the unexpected." The piece argues that Surrealism's emphasis on instinct and contradiction offers a counterpoint to algorithm-driven culture.