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Stella SNEAD (b. 1910, London - d. 2006, New York) was a British artist renowned for her surrealist paintings, photographs and photo-collages. Her work is characterized by dreamlike landscapes and fantastical creatures, reflecting her deep engagement with both the natural world and the subconscious.
Born on April 2, 1910, in London, England, Snead faced early familial challenges due to her father’s mental health issues, leading her and her mother to leave him in 1915. In 1936, she pursued her passion for art by enrolling at the Ozenfant Academy of Fine Arts in London, studying under French abstractionist Amédée Ozenfant. During this period, she formed a
lasting friendship with fellow students Sari Dienes and Leonora Carrington, becoming a part of the surrealist movement.
With the onset of World War II in 1939, Snead relocated to the United States, initially settling in New York City, where she continued her studies at the Ozenfant Academy until 1941. There, she connected with other surrealist émigrés and began to establish her artistic career. In 1940, she traveled to Los Angeles, drawing inspiration from the landscapes and indigenous cultures of the American West and Southwest. By 1946, she had made Taos, New Mexico, her home, immersing herself in the local art scene and the region’s unique environment.
Snead’s artistic journey experienced a significant shift in 1950 when she ceased painting due to personal challenges and depression. She then turned to photography, extensively documenting her travels, particularly in India during the 1960s. Her photographic works captured the essence of Indian street life, nature, and Hindu sculptures, leading to the publication of several acclaimed photobooks. In the late 1980s, after a hiatus of more than three decades, Snead returned to painting, recreating lost works and developing new pieces inspired by her travels and photographic experiences.
She passed away on March 18, 2006, in New York City.