While many are familiar with the Surrealist worlds found in the paintings of British Mexican artist Leonora Carrington, her lesser-known sculptures reveal another dimension of her creative vision. Rarely exhibited in the United States, L’Space Gallery in New York is taking sharp focus on this unique facet of the artist’s practice with the exhibition “Shape of Dreams: Sculptures by Leonora Carrington,” on view through June 27, 2026.

Produced in collaboration with Consigna Gallery of Mexico City and with the support of the Leonora Carrington Council, the tightly curated exhibition brings together significant bronze sculptures as well as several jewelry pieces that echo her singular approach to sculpture.

A dark bronze sculpture by Leonora Carrington of a standing, robed figure with a fan-shaped, shell-like head that obscures the face. The figure raises both hands in front of its chest, palms outward, as if gesturing or reading. The long garment drapes to the feet, and the figure stands against a flat, gold-toned background.

Leonora Carrington, The Palmist (2010). Courtesy of Courtesy of L’Space Gallery.

Born in Lancashire, England, in 1917, Carrington visited the International Surrealist Exhibition in London in 1936 and encountered the work of Max Ernst, which had a profound impact on the then-burgeoning artist. In the early 1940s, Carrington moved to Mexico City following the outbreak of World War II, where Surrealism had already begun to gain significant traction. Working across painting, writing, theater, and—as illuminated in “Shape of Dreams”—sculpture, she developed artistic vernacular rooted in themes of mythology, the occult, and folklore.

In her paintings, otherworldly realms populated by fantastical beings and creatures offer a glimpse into the artist’s rich imagination. Through her sculptures, these figures confront the viewer in the third dimension.

A small, gold-toned sculptural figure with a round, sun-like face framed by a halo. The figure has a stylized, elongated body with one arm raised in a gesture and one leg lifted as if walking. A smaller human-like form appears integrated into its torso. The sculpture is set against a solid black background.

Leonora Carrington, Sol Negro (n.d.). Courtesy of L’Space Gallery.

A standout work at L’Space Gallery is The Palmist, an uncanny figure with elaborate garb and headdress that evokes the regalia of a priestess or goddess, alludes to the rich, mystic and spiritual human traditions that transcend cultural boundaries. The piece is also notable in Carrington’s oeuvre as it was her first monumental piece produced for public display. Five years after the artist’s death in 2011, a monumental edition was permanently placed in the Jardín del Antiguo Palacio del Arzobispado, Mexico City.

Elsewhere, La Inventora del Atole taps into the history and traditions of Mesoamerica. Atole, a hot beverage linked to themes of nourishment, care, and comfort, has been consumed for thousands of years. The totemic nature of the work and stylized form engages with this ancient past, a creative myth of a time-honored symbol.

A surreal bronze sculpture by Leonora Carrington of a large bird-shaped vessel with a long beak and carved wings, carrying several smaller bird figures inside. A taller, bird-headed figure stands at the back holding a long staff, as if guiding the group. The sculpture has a weathered, grayish patina and is set against a flat, gold-toned background.

Leonora Carrington, The Ship of Cranes (2010). Courtesy of L’Space Gallery.

Anchoring the mystic, spiritual nature of Carrington’s sculptures, “Shape of Dreams” centers on an immersive, interactive Tarot Reading Booth. Inside, viewers are invited to choose a card from a Tarot deck designed by Carrington, after which an A.I. reconstruction of the artist’s voice delivers a reading in English, Spanish, and French.

Complementing the presentation of Carrington’s sculptures is a selection of works by her son, Pablo Weisz Carrington, including a work he produced in collaboration with his mother. Together, the works on view provide rare insight into Carrington’s artistic worldbuilding, and blurs the boundary between her art and reality.

“Shape of Dreams: Sculptures by Leonora Carrington” is on view at L’Space Gallery, New York, through June 27, 2026.