Unicorn | Green Patina | Salvador Dali

Among Salvador Dalí’s most enchanting surrealist sculptures, Unicorn stands out as a mesmerizing embodiment of myth, fantasy, and symbolism. Known for his ability to transform age-old legends into surreal visual poetry, Dalí’s interpretation of the unicorn offers both elegance and deeper, layered meaning.

Concept and Symbolism

In Unicorn, Dalí takes the iconic symbol of purity, magic, and unattainable desire and reimagines it through his distinctive surrealist lens. The sculpture presents a slender, elongated unicorn with an exaggeratedly spiralled horn — a deliberate, almost theatrical exaggeration meant to heighten the creature’s mystical quality. The unicorn has long been associated with virginity, innocence, and the ethereal, but in Dalí’s hands, it also becomes a representation of forbidden dreams and the pursuit of the impossible. The surreal proportions and delicate forms invite the viewer to consider the tension between fantasy and reality, a theme present throughout Dalí’s body of work. Often, Dalí would juxtapose the innocence of symbols like the unicorn with suggestive, dreamlike imagery to hint at the subconscious impulses that exist beneath the surface of purity.

Medium and Presentation

Typically cast in bronze with a patinated finish, Unicorn showcases Dalí’s meticulous attention to detail, with flowing lines, fine textures, and a dynamic sense of motion. The elongated limbs, stretched neck, and spiralled horn enhance the fantastical aura of the piece, giving it a delicate, weightless quality despite its solid medium. Placed upon a simple plinth, the sculpture commands presence, inviting contemplation from every angle.

Legacy and Impact 

Unicorn represents Dalí’s ability to take timeless symbols and infuse them with modern surrealist meaning. It remains a sought-after work for collectors and surrealism enthusiasts alike, admired for both its visual elegance and its intriguing psychological undertones.The sculpture continues to serve as a reminder of Dalí’s fascination with myth, symbolism, and the blurred boundaries between dreams and waking life — core elements that defined much of his career.