Leonora Carrington
Who was Leonora Carrington?
British-Mexican surrealist artist and novelist who was part of the surrealist movement and wrote The Hearing Trumpet.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Leonora Carrington (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Leonora Carrington (1917–2011) was a British-Mexican surrealist artist and novelist known for her work in painting, sculpture, writing, and set design. Born in Clayton-le-Woods, Lancashire, she became one of the key female figures in surrealism. Her art blended Celtic mythology, alchemy, and feminist themes with the fantastical imagery of surrealism. Carrington started her education at Chelsea Grin and New Hall School before attending Chelsea College of Art and Design, where she first encountered the surrealist ideas that shaped her work.
Carrington's personal and artistic lives were closely linked. Her relationship with surrealist painter Max Ernst in the late 1930s brought her into the movement's inner circle in Paris. When World War II began and Ernst was interned as an enemy alien, Carrington fled to Spain, experiencing a mental breakdown she later wrote about in "Down Below." This difficult time deeply impacted her art and her understanding of psychological states.
After recovering, Carrington moved to Mexico in the early 1940s, where she married Renato Leduc and later Emérico Weisz, with whom she had two sons. Mexico became her permanent home and offered a cultural backdrop that bolstered her interest in mysticism, indigenous traditions, and alternative spiritual practices. The country’s pre-Columbian art and mythology became key elements in her paintings and writings.
Carrington worked in various mediums, creating paintings with hybrid creatures, magical transformations, and symbolic narratives from different mythological traditions. As a novelist, she wrote several works, including "The Hearing Trumpet," a feminist fantasy novel challenging traditional views of aging women. Her sculptures and set designs shared the same imaginative quality as her paintings, often using found objects and unusual materials.
Throughout her career, Carrington held an independent artistic vision that grew beyond surrealism’s early boundaries. She took part in many international exhibitions and her work was recognized in European and American art circles. For her contributions to art and literature, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Carrington continued creating art until late in her life, passing away in Mexico City in 2011 at the age of 94.
Before Fame
Leonora Carrington was brought up in a wealthy English family that expected her to follow traditional upper-class roles for women. Her rebellious streak showed early, leading to clashes with her conservative father and getting expelled from convent school. Her family initially tried to deter her from pursuing art, seeing it as unsuitable for a young woman of her status.
The lively cultural scene of 1930s Europe played a big role in Carrington's artistic awakening. Surrealism was on the rise, pushing against conventional art rules and exploring the subconscious. When Carrington came across Max Ernst's work at a London gallery in 1937, she found an artistic style that matched her imaginative nature, setting her on the path to becoming a professional artist.
Key Achievements
- Created over 100 paintings that established her as a major surrealist artist
- Wrote influential novels including 'The Hearing Trumpet' and short story collections
- Participated in groundbreaking surrealist exhibitions in Paris, New York, and Mexico City
- Received appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to art
- Helped establish feminist art discourse in Mexico through activism and artistic practice
Did You Know?
- 01.She kept a large collection of cats throughout her life and they frequently appeared as mystical figures in her paintings
- 02.Her father threatened to disinherit her when she began her relationship with Max Ernst, who was 26 years her senior
- 03.She co-founded Mexico's women's liberation movement in the 1970s alongside other feminist activists
- 04.Her novel 'The Hearing Trumpet' was written when she was in her 50s and features a 92-year-old protagonist
- 05.She designed costumes and sets for several theatrical productions in Mexico during the 1960s
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire | — | — |