What was the name of the 1938 Paris exhibition that united international Surrealists?

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The 1938 Paris exhibition was called Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme.

The exhibition opened at the Galerie Beaux-Arts in Paris in January 1938. André Breton and Paul Éluard organized it with Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, and Man Ray, who contributed to different aspects of its design and presentation. Rather than displaying paintings in a conventional white gallery, the organizers created an immersive environment filled with unusual objects, lighting, and theatrical effects.

The exhibition reflected Surrealism’s international reach shortly before the Second World War. Artists from several countries participated, and the show combined painting, sculpture, photography, and installation-like staging. It followed the 1936 International Surrealist Exhibition in London but was a distinct event. The title is often shortened to the Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme, while its venue is sometimes called the Galerie des Beaux-Arts.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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