Wolfgang Paalen "Farewell to Surrealism" Opening Reception

Redbud Arts Center is proud to present "Farewell to Surrealism," a title adopted from a 1943 essay by Austrian artist and critic Wolfgang Paalen, published in the inaugural issue of the journal Dyn. The exhibition explores Paalen’s departure from Surrealism and his transition into Abstract Expressionism. Born in Vienna in 1905, Paalen was a key Surrealist known for his innovative fumages, created by directing candle soot onto surfaces. After moving to Mexico in 1939 at Frida Kahlo’s invitation, he blended European influences with Mexican culture. Despite his untimely death in 1959, Paalen’s work remains celebrated in major museum collections worldwide.