"I paint things that don't exist, and that I'd like to see." - Leonor Fini
Born in Buenos Aires in 1907 and raised primarily in Trieste, Leonor Fini developed an early interest in art, literature, and theatre. Largely self-taught, she began exhibiting in Italy during the 1920s and moved to Paris in 1931, where she became part of the international avant-garde. There she met artists including Max Ernst, Paul Éluard, and Salvador Dalí, and became associated with the Surrealist milieu, although she was never formally a member of André Breton’s group.
Fini exhibited alongside Surrealist artists throughout the 1930s, including in the 1936-1937 exhibition Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Her first solo exhibition in Paris was held at the Galerie Bonjean in 1932, then directed by Christian Dior. During the Second World War, she lived in Italy before returning to France after the Liberation.
Throughout her career, Fini worked across painting, drawing, theatre, costume design, and book illustration. She created sets and costumes for theatre and opera productions, collaborated with writers and poets, and illustrated works by authors including Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Baudelaire. She was also known for her portraits, often depicting writers, artists, and figures from her personal circle.
Fini remained active in Paris until her death in 1996. Her work has undergone renewed institutional attention in recent years. The exhibition I am LEONOR FINI was presented at the Palazzo Reale in 2024, bringing together paintings, drawings, and archival material from across her career. Her work was also included in the major exhibition Surréalisme at the Centre Pompidou in 2024, which examined the movement’s international development.