Pilar Zeta

After over a century since its birth, surrealism is experiencing a sudden and compelling resurgence. The renewed interest in the movement is multifaceted. There is a growing effort to rediscover female and non-Western surrealists, a shift cemented by Cecilia Alemani’s The Milk of Dreams biennale. At the same time, AI-generated imagery, with its uncanny distortions and inability to render human limbs correctly, has inadvertently embraced surrealist aesthetics. What was once seen as a technological flaw is now a defining feature—glitchy, absurdist compositions depict a somewhat funny, somewhat disturbing reality. But most importantly, surrealism thrives in times of uncertainty. As rational thought repeatedly fails to make sense of the turbulent world around us, we revert to the subconscious, the symbolic, and the irrational.

Pilar Zeta has emerged as a leading figure in this new surrealist landscape. Her distinct style—mystical futurism—is defined by a precise interplay of minimalist, surrealist landscapes, vibrant colour palettes, and deconstructed geometric forms. Her work draws from symbolic codes and the language of the subconscious, linking her practice to ancient architecture, the surrealists Salvador Dalí and Sofía Bassi, and other key figures such as Constantin Brancusi and Anna Maria Maiolino.

Zeta’s creative practice is expansive yet cohesive, seamlessly spanning painting, sculpture, tapestry, installations, and digital art. Her influences range from surrealism and mysticism to postmodern architecture, quantum physics, and esoteric traditions. Yet, despite this breadth, her visual language remains distinct and instantly recognisable.

Unlike traditional surrealism, Zeta’s approach is not chaotic or spontaneous but controlled and structured. Her precise compositions rely on bold colour, reflective materials, and iridescent surfaces that distort and transform space, creating an unmistakable dreamlike quality. Her mysticism is neither purely ethereal nor abstract; instead, it is grounded in an intentional, almost ritualistic process, offering a pathway into a symbolic, futuristic world.

Visions invites viewers into a realm where altars, portals, and surreal landscapes guide the transformation of ideas into physical form. The exhibition explores the journey of bringing the unseen into reality—bridging the conceptual and material through deliberate, ritual-like practices. Light and water act as central elements, mediating transformation and materialising intangible ideas. Iridescent textures shift with the light, symbolising the fluidity of perception and the evolving nature of creation.

At the heart of Visions is a fountain, surrounded by digital works in varying light configurations. These elements activate the space, turning it into a meditative environment that encourages reflection and introspection. Visitors are invited to engage, immersing themselves in moments of stillness that ignite their own creative potential.