Bio

A zoologist, anthropologist, best-selling author, and the last surviving artist of the Surrealist movement, Desmond Morris left behind a legacy that bridged the worlds of science and art. While studying zoology at the University of Birmingham, he began creating his signature ‘biomorphs’—imaginary, meticulously painted creatures inspired by microscopic forms and influenced by Joan Miró and Yves Tanguy. After early success exhibiting with the last group of British Surrealists and alongside Miró, Morris focused on zoology, becoming internationally known through television and books such as The Naked Ape (1967). From the late 1980s, his art gained renewed attention, with works entering major museum collections including the Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland. In his later years, he lived in Ireland, where he continued to paint and worked toward establishing the Institute of Visual Arts to house his own works, surrealist collections, and teaching facilities. Read Desmond’s BBC obituary here.