Two Abstract Figures Dancing in Foliage, 1990

Eileen Agar (1899–1991) was a British-Argentine artist renowned for her innovative contributions to Surrealism and modern art. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Agar moved to England as a child and later studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Her work spanned painting, collage, photography, and sculpture, often characterized by a playful use of found objects and a fascination with organic forms. Agar became associated with the British Surrealist movement in the 1930s, exhibiting alongside figures such as Paul Nash and Henry Moore. Her distinctive style merged abstraction with surrealist imagery, exploring themes of nature, mythology, and the subconscious.

Agar’s work has been featured in major institutional exhibitions, including the landmark 1936 International Surrealist Exhibition in London and retrospectives at the Whitechapel Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Her pieces are held in the collections of the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum, underscoring her lasting impact on 20th-century art. At auction, Agar’s works have appeared at leading houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, where her paintings and collages have achieved significant results, reflecting growing recognition of her role in the development of modern British art.