Finding Inspiration in Leonora Carrington: A Reflection on My Art Practice

Leonora Carrington's art and life have fascinated and inspired me for years. I wouldn’t call myself a surrealist artist, but there’s something about the way she weaves deeply personal themes with universal ideas that resonates deeply with my work. Transformation, resilience, and connection—these are central to her narratives, and they’re central to mine too. I think of my piece The Ancestors as a bridge between what I do and the ideas she explored.

I first encountered Carrington’s work at the Celtic Surrealist exhibition at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Dublin. I felt quite emotional, though I didn’t fully understand why at the time. That experience stayed with me and latergave me the courage to dive deeper into my own journey. Her paintings revealed layers of texture, symbolism, and emotion that really resonated with me. Years later, in 2022, I had the chance to visit the Leonora Carrington Museum in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. That visit was unforgettable—the mix of sunshine, atmosphere, and seing her works in the museum setting gave me an even deeper appreciation of how she blended personal experience with universal meaning.

Carrington’s Influence on My Themes

Carrington’s art is often described as mystical and symbolic, and it’s true. 

Existing between worlds, her work explores the boundaries between reality and dreams. What I really love is how Carrington has connected the personal with the universal allowing so many connect on an emotional level.

My work isn’t surrealist in style, but it shares a similar desire to explore emotions and symbols. The Ancestors, for instance, looks at generational trauma and collective memory—something deeply tied to Irish identity but also universal in its reach. Like Carrington, I hope my pieces invite viewers to uncover their own interpretations and find their ownconnections.

Parallels in My Art

Take Under a Blood Red Sky. This painting explores migration and transformation, themes that often appeared in Carrington’s work. The abstracted figures and vibrant red tones reflect tension—conflict and hope existing side by side. Are the figures warriors, wanderers, or something in between? That ambiguity feels like a nod to Carrington’s ability to leave questions open-ended, inviting the viewer’s imagination to complete the story. For me, this piece is about courage and the emotional landscapes we navigate when starting over.

Another example is The Last Fisherman. This painting reflects the loss of traditions and the shifts brought by modernity. The Poolbeg Towers in the background tie it to urbanization, symbolizing the move from rural to city life. Carrington often explored these liminal spaces—those moments of change where something is lost, but something new begins. The fisherman, to me, becomes a symbol of resilience and memory, reflecting the universal experience of adapting to a changing world.

The Ancestors: A Dialogue Between Past and Present

In The Ancestors, two faces emerge from a textured surface. At first glance, they feel solid, almost stoic, but as you look closer, hidden features start to appear. For me, this represents the layers of history and memory we carry—the untold stories that live within us.

Carrington’s painting El Mundo Mágico de los Mayas (The Magical World of the Mayas) from 1964, comes to mind when I think about this piece. While her work dives into mystical connections, mine is more grounded, but we share a focus on unseen forces. My figures are fractured yet resilient, reflecting a human vulnerability that also feels universal. Both works invite reflection, encouraging viewers to think about their own connections to the past and the present.

Inspiration Beyond Style

What I admire most about Carrington isn’t just her surrealist aesthetic; it’s her courage. She wasn’t afraid to explore the unconscious, to tell personal stories that touched on universal truths. That fearlessness is something I strive to bring into my own work. It’s not always easy to tap into vulnerability, but it’s where the most honest art comes from.

Pieces like The Ancestors, Under a Blood Red Sky, and The Last Fisherman are my attempts to reflect the fractures and connections in our lives. Like Carrington’s art, I hope they provide a space for reflection—a reminder that even in our struggles, we’re all connected by shared experiences.

A Continuing Dialogue

Carrington’s work reminds me that art can be both deeply personal and profoundly universal. Her ability to transform her experiences into something that speaks to others inspires me to keep pushing in my own practice. While our styles are different, her journey—a life of courage, exploration, and connection—feels like a guiding light for my own path.

If you’re curious, I invite you to explore my portfolio. Pieces like The Ancestors, Under a Blood Red Sky, and The Last Fisherman are part of this ongoing dialogue with the past, the present, and the inspirations that shape us.

Check out 'The Collective Unconscious'

Image Reference:

https://www.historiasdearte.com/19-la-sorprendente-leonora-carrington-y-su-mundo-surrealista/