Baton Rouge Gallery’s Surreal Salon spreads the strangeness

The strange and the striking meet again this month for the 2016 Surreal Salon, with the team at BREC’s Baton Rouge Gallery preparing for its biggest yet.

The celebration of surreal art began with 670 pieces submitted from across the country for the consideration of this year’s guest juror, Elizabeth McGrath—a Los Angeles-based artist who describes her work with dioramas and dolls as “creepy” and “freakish.” McGrath narrowed the pool to 60 works from 23 states that visitors can take in Jan. 5-28. The exhibit culminates Jan. 22 with the Surreal Salon Soiree, which will also feature a few special additions, according to BRG executive director Jason Andreasen. Along with a live performance by “wild and frenetic” Atlanta electropop act Hank & Cupcakes, the soiree will include a one-night-only installation from the local arts collective Elevator Projects. 

“There may be some other surprises that night,” Andreasen says, “but everyone will just need to be there to find out.” batonrougegallery.org