The Inner Worlds of Remedios Varo

By Jonathan Shih

Remedios Varo was a central figure in Surrealism and Latin American fantastic art, and an essential presence in the Mexican art scene of the mid-20th century.

Born in Catalonia, Varo was part of a group of European artists who had close ties to Surrealism before settling in Mexico City. During the 1940s and 1950s, the city became an important center for abstract and fantastic art, shaped through salons, informal gatherings, and galleries that encouraged discussion and exchange. Notably, the meetings held at the apartment Varo shared with poet Benjamin Péret brought together figures such as Leonora Carrington, Alice Rahon, Wolfgang Paalen, and photographers Kati and José Horna. During this period, and until her death in 1963, Varo produced her most significant works.