Meret Oppenheim 1913 – 1985

Biography

Meret Oppenheim was a German-Swiss surrealist artist and lyricist whose creative vision spanned visual art and literary expression. Born on October 6, 1913, in Charlottenburg, she emerged as a significant figure in the surrealist movement, bringing a distinctive voice to both painting and poetry during the twentieth century.

Throughout her artistic career, Oppenheim worked across multiple mediums, creating works that challenged conventional boundaries between disciplines. Her contributions to surrealism reflected the movement’s commitment to unlocking the unconscious mind and exploring imaginative possibilities beyond rational constraint.

Oppenheim spent much of her later life in Switzerland, where she continued her artistic practice until her death on November 15, 1985, in Basel. Her legacy endures as an important part of surrealist art history. She was laid to rest in Carona, in the Swiss canton of Ticino, where her artistic contributions continue to inspire and intrigue audiences.