A Striking Vision from Leonora Carrington: Unveiling Ikon
LEONORA CARRINGTON (1917-2011), Ikon
Mexican Surrealism finds one of its most enigmatic voices in Leonora Carrington, a master whose work continues to captivate and mystify. Kristen France, Head of Department for Latin American Art at Christie’s, puts it perfectly: “What always attracts me to the work of Leonora Carrington is how her images appear both intensely personal, yet universal at the same time.” This duality is on full display in Ikon, a striking piece from 1988 that exemplifies the artist’s genius in the latter half of her life.
After leaving Mexico for New York, Carrington entered a phase of profound creativity, producing a series of canvases and works on panels that rank among her strongest compositions. Ikon, painted in egg tempera on a panel and measuring 30½ x 24 inches (77.5 x 61 cm), is a standout from this period. Set to be offered at Christie’s Latin American Art sale on February 28, 2025, in New York, this piece carries an estimate of $1,200,000–1,800,000—a testament to its significance. (You can explore the listing here .)
Originally featured in an important solo exhibition at the prestigious Brewster Gallery, Ikon reflects a shift in Carrington’s practice. In this work, she conjures a scene where the boundaries between dreams and reality blur, and the animal and human realms intertwine in a quiet, mutual understanding. The title itself—Ikon—feels fitting, evoking something sacred, almost totemic. The painting draws you in with its vivid imagery, suspending you in contemplation as if poised to reveal a universal truth. Perhaps it’s a truth about existence itself, lingering just beyond our grasp.
Born in 1917 and passing in 2011, Carrington spent decades weaving her personal mythology into works that resonate far beyond her own experience. Ikon is no exception. It’s a portal into her surreal world—one where the strange becomes familiar, and the personal becomes profound. As this masterpiece heads to auction, it offers a rare chance to own a piece of her legacy, a vision that remains as haunting and relevant today as it was in 1988.
