Leonora Carrington (British, born April 6, 1917–died May 25, 2011) was an artist and author, best known as one of the leading female figures of the Surrealist movement. Carrington was born in Clayton Green, Lancashire, England, to a wealthy textile merchant family, and received much of her early education from tutors and nuns. After being expelled from several schools due to her rebellious nature, Carrington was sent to Florence, Italy, to attend her first art school, Mrs. Penrose’s Academy of Art. Her education continued at Chelsea School of Art in London for a year, after which she transferred to Ozenfant Academy, London, for the following three years.

In 1937, Carrington met Max Ernst, who is recognized as one of the pioneers of the Surrealist movement. Carrington and Ernst formed a strong bond and lived in Paris and southern France where they supported each other’s artistic talent and vision.

In 1947, Carrington became extremely well known almost overnight after she showcased her work at a Surrealist exhibition. As the only professional female painter represented at the exhibition, she quickly made a name for herself as one of the most prominent female painters of the Surrealist movement. Before her death in 2011, Carrington was recognized as one of the last female painters of the Surrealist movement.