23 Midjourney Prompts for Surrealism (Invoke Bizarre Brilliance)

Midjourney is an AI image generator that has revolutionized the way we create surrealistic art.

From dreamlike landscapes filled with enchanting details to peculiar beings that seem to defy the laws of nature — it provides a canvas for limitless artistic imagination.

But figuring out how to prompt it can seem daunting.

That's where this guide comes in.

In this guide, born out of countless hours of navigating Midjourney, I'll share thoughtfully selected Midjourney prompts designed to assist you in crafting breathtaking surrealism with simplicity.

Let's get started!

Midjourney Prompts for Surrealism

A surreal landscape of floating islands, each with its own distinct ecosystem, with a waterfall cascading from one to another against a starry sky.

This prompt directs Midjourney to create a surreal, dreamlike landscape, a key characteristic of surrealism.

The mention of floating islands each having its own distinct ecosystem adds layers of complexity and intrigue, encouraging the model to incorporate a variety of elements and settings into one cohesive image.

The detail of a waterfall cascading from one island to another introduces movement and dynamism, while the backdrop of a starry sky provides a contrasting, celestial setting, enhancing the overall surreal effect.

A giant clock melting over a barren desert landscape, its hands distorted and stretching towards the sand, creating a sense of distorted time.

By stating a giant clock melting, you're prompting Midjourney to incorporate elements of the surreal, defying the laws of physics and reality.

Specifying over a barren desert landscape sets a stark, desolate scene that contrasts with the bizarre image of the melting clock.

The phrase its hands distorted and stretching towards the sand adds a sense of movement and distortion to the clock, reinforcing the surrealistic theme.

Lastly, the words creating a sense of distorted time guide the model to evoke a sense of disorientation and confusion, central to the surrealism art movement.

A whimsical scene of a giant rabbit reading a book under a tree, while small humans play around it, challenging the concept of scale.

In this prompt, the surreal element is the reversal of scale, with a giant rabbit and small humans, which provides an intriguing contrast that is a hallmark of surrealism.

The rabbit reading a book under a tree adds a whimsical touch, creating an image that is both playful and thought-provoking.

The mention of small humans play around it not only enhances the surreal aspect but also adds dynamism and interaction to the scene.

Overall, this prompt guides Midjourney to create an artwork that is fantastical yet grounded in familiar elements, embodying the essence of surrealism.

A dreamlike image of a woman with an ocean inside her, waves crashing against her ribs, with a lighthouse in her heart.

The phrase dreamlike image directs Midjourney to craft a surreal and ethereal depiction, setting the tone for a surrealistic piece.

The description a woman with an ocean inside her, waves crashing against her ribs, encourages the model to blend the human form with natural elements, creating an unexpected and visually striking juxtaposition.

The lighthouse in her heart adds a contrasting, yet harmonious element, offering a beacon of light amidst the chaos of the ocean, thereby enhancing the overall surrealistic effect.

This prompt invites Midjourney to explore the boundaries of reality and illusion, capturing the essence of surrealism.

A surreal cityscape where buildings bend and twist like ribbons in the wind, with people walking upside down, defying gravity.

By specifying a surreal cityscape, you're directing Midjourney to create an unconventional and fantastical urban environment.

The phrase buildings bend and twist like ribbons in the wind sets the stage for a dreamlike city with an organic, fluid architecture, adding a sense of movement and distortion.

Mentioning people walking upside down introduces an element of absurdity and challenges the norms of gravity, a common theme in surrealism.

This prompt altogether encapsulates the essence of surrealism, with its bizarre scenarios and dreamlike distortions of reality.

A bizarre scene of an apple tree growing giant eyeballs instead of fruits, a commentary on surveillance and privacy.

By specifying a bizarre scene of an apple tree growing giant eyeballs, you're instructing Midjourney to craft an absurd and surreal image that defies logic and natural laws, a defining characteristic of surrealism.

The mention of giant eyeballs instead of fruits further emphasizes the surreal element, pushing the boundaries of conventional imagery and provoking curiosity.

The additional context of a commentary on surveillance and privacy gives the model a thematic direction, guiding it to interpret this surreal scene as a symbol of intrusive monitoring and invasion of personal space.

This direction encourages Midjourney to create a piece that is not only visually striking but also thought-provoking, tapping into contemporary debates about privacy and surveillance.

An unusual landscape of a forest at dusk, where the trees are made of colorful neon lights, and the leaves are glowing fireflies.

This surreal prompt guides Midjourney to create a dreamlike forest scene, bathed in an unusual light.

By specifying trees made of colorful neon lights, you provide a vivid, imaginative focal point that breaks away from reality and leans into the fantastical.

The mention of leaves as glowing fireflies adds a magical detail that enhances the overall surrealism, creating a scene that's alive with movement and light.

Finally, setting the scene at dusk ensures a contrast between the natural darkness and artificial light, deepening the surreal effect and enhancing the visual impact.

A surreal portrait of a man with a galaxy for a face, stars twinkling in his features, planets orbiting around him.

This prompt invites Midjourney to delve into the realm of surrealism, emphasizing on the unconventional and imaginative aspects of art.

The phrase a man with a galaxy for a face encourages the creation of an image that defies reality, blending human form with cosmic elements.

Mentioning stars twinkling in his features provides a hint towards integrating light and depth into the artwork, while planets orbiting around him suggests movement and a sense of perspective, adding depth to the surreal portrait.

This prompt, overall, invites an exploration of the vastness of the universe within the confines of a human form, creating a striking and thought-provoking piece of surreal art.

A dreamlike scene of a floating teapot pouring a stream of tiny fish into a cup, with a giant cat sipping from it.

By specifying a dreamlike scene, you're guiding Midjourney to create a surreal image that defies reality.

The floating teapot pouring a stream of tiny fish introduces an unexpected element, ensuring the scene captures the essence of the surreal art movement.

Mentioning a cup as the receiving vessel for the fish gives a specific point of interaction in the scene, while the giant cat sipping from it adds an element of absurdity and scale distortion, which is characteristic of surrealism.

This prompt is packed with imaginative details that are sure to result in a unique and intriguing piece of surreal art.

A bizarre image of a woman with a beehive for a head, worker bees flying in and out, making honey in her thoughts.

By specifying a bizarre image of a woman with a beehive for a head, you're setting the stage for a surrealistic composition that challenges conventional representations of the human form.

The addition of worker bees flying in and out imbues the scene with a sense of motion and life, while simultaneously hinting at the woman's interconnectedness with nature.

The phrase making honey in her thoughts adds a metaphorical layer, suggesting a synthesis of human cognition and natural processes.

This prompt perfectly encapsulates the essence of surrealism, with its blend of the absurd, the dreamlike, and the symbolically rich.

A surreal scene of a giant snail carrying a city on its back, slowly moving across a desert, reflecting the pace of urban development.

By specifying a surreal scene of a giant snail carrying a city, you're instructing Midjourney to create an unusual, dream-like image that defies reality, a key element of surrealism.

The giant snail is a unique, fantastical creature that represents slow, steady progress, while the city on its back symbolizes the burden of urban growth.

The addition of slowly moving across a desert sets the scene in an inhospitable, barren landscape, emphasizing the isolation and struggle of urban development.

Lastly, the phrase reflecting the pace of urban development ties the elements together, suggesting a deeper, metaphorical interpretation of the scene.

An eerie picture of a moon hanging low in a room, casting long shadows of furniture, creating a night within a domestic setting.

By indicating an eerie picture of a moon hanging low in a room, you're asking Midjourney to create an image that blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination, a hallmark of surrealism.

The detail of casting long shadows of furniture adds a layer of depth and intrigue, making the ordinary seem strange and dreamlike, further enhancing the surrealistic theme.

The phrase creating a night within a domestic setting reinforces the juxtaposition of the familiar with the fantastical, a core element of the surrealist aesthetic.

This prompts the model to re-imagine everyday settings in a way that is both haunting and beautiful.

A dreamlike image of a child holding an umbrella under a rain of colorful butterflies, standing in a field of oversized tulips.

This prompt instructs Midjourney to envision a surreal scene, rich with whimsical elements.

The child holding an umbrella under a rain of colorful butterflies directs the model to create a fantastical narrative, where the ordinary and extraordinary merge.

The mention of the field of oversized tulips further amplifies the surreal aspect, suggesting a world where proportions are distorted.

This vivid, dreamlike imagery is a key characteristic of surrealistic art, encouraging the viewer to question reality and interpret the scene according to their imagination.

A bizarre scene of a man fishing in a cloud, with a flock of birds emerging from his catch, creating a sense of dreamlike freedom.

By specifying a bizarre scene of a man fishing in a cloud, you're directing Midjourney to create an image that defies normal reality, a key characteristic of Surrealism.

Mentioning a flock of birds emerging from his catch adds an unexpected element of surprise and further enhances the surreal nature of the scene.

The phrase creating a sense of dreamlike freedom ensures the model captures the whimsical and liberating essence of the surrealistic concept.

This prompt embodies the essence of Surrealism, where the impossible becomes possible, and the ordinary is transformed into extraordinary.

A surreal portrait of a woman with a mirror for a face, reflecting the viewer and the surroundings, challenging the concept of identity.

By choosing a surreal portrait, you're inviting Midjourney to explore the boundaries of reality and imagination.

The phrase a woman with a mirror for a face is a powerful metaphor that encourages deep, abstract thinking.

Reflecting the viewer and the surroundings adds depth and complexity to the portrait, making it an interactive piece that changes according to its environment.

The concept of challenging the concept of identity infuses the artwork with a philosophical dimension, prompting the viewer to question their own perceptions and beliefs.

This thought-provoking prompt is ideal for creating a surrealistic masterpiece.

A dreamlike scene of a staircase leading from the earth to the moon, with people casually ascending and descending, defying the laws of physics.

By choosing a dreamlike scene, the prompt is guiding Midjourney towards the fantastical and surreal aspects of the scenario.

The staircase leading from the earth to the moon is a striking visual that blurs the line between reality and imagination, an important feature of Surrealism.

The mention of people casually ascending and descending introduces a sense of normality to the otherworldly scene, creating an interesting contrast and further enhancing the surreal quality.

The phrase defying the laws of physics emphasizes the disregard for reality's constraints, pushing the boundaries of the surreal even further.

A bizarre image of a tree growing human hearts as fruits, with a couple picking one, symbolizing the quest for love.

By mentioning a bizarre image, you're guiding Midjourney to delve into the uncanny and dreamlike realm of surrealism.

The concept of a tree growing human hearts introduces a striking visual paradox that challenges the boundaries of reality, a key element of surreal art.

The inclusion of a couple picking one not only adds a narrative element but also humanizes the otherwise abstract image, lending it emotional resonance.

Lastly, the phrase symbolizing the quest for love gives the image depth and interpretative richness, connecting the surreal elements to a universal human experience.

A surreal landscape of a river flowing upside down in the sky, with fish swimming among the clouds, creating a sense of inverted reality.

By defining a surreal landscape, you're instructing Midjourney to create an image that defies the laws of nature and physics, a key element of surrealism.

The description of a river flowing upside down in the sky introduces a strong sense of visual paradox, inviting the model to challenge perceptions of reality.

The detail of fish swimming among the clouds further emphasizes the dream-like, fantastical aspect of the scene, adding a layer of complexity.

Lastly, the phrase creating a sense of inverted reality reinforces the overall surrealistic theme, guiding Midjourney to produce an artwork that is both bewildering and captivating.

A dreamlike scene of a forest of giant mushrooms, with tiny houses nestled in their stems, creating a whimsical fairy-tale setting.

By describing a dreamlike scene of a forest of giant mushrooms, you invite Midjourney to craft an otherworldly landscape, perfectly aligning with the surrealism theme.

The mention of tiny houses nestled in their stems adds an element of whimsy and intrigue, suggesting a world within a world and further enhancing the surreal aspect.

The phrase creating a whimsical fairy-tale setting solidifies the fantastical tone, encouraging the creation of an image that blurs the line between reality and imagination, a key characteristic of surrealism.

The overall prompt provides a clear and captivating direction for crafting a surrealistic masterpiece.

A bizarre image of a man with a birdcage for a head, with a single bird flying out, symbolizing the freedom of thoughts.

This prompt guides Midjourney to create a surrealistic image, focusing on the unusual aspect of a man having a birdcage for a head.

The specific detail of a single bird flying out sets the scene for an escape, suggesting a deeper symbolic meaning tied to the liberation of thoughts or ideas.

The use of the term bizarre further emphasizes the surreal nature of the image, encouraging the creation of an artwork that defies reality and challenges conventional perceptions.

This image embodies the quintessence of surrealism, blending reality and dream in a visually striking and thought-provoking way.

A surreal scene of a city skyline reflected in a giant eye, with skyscrapers as eyelashes, creating a fusion of human and urban elements.

By defining a surreal scene, you're instructing Midjourney to venture beyond the bounds of reality, typical of the Surrealism art movement.

The mention of city skyline reflected in a giant eye sets the stage for a unique blend of urban and organic imagery, pushing the boundaries of interpretation and perception.

Including skyscrapers as eyelashes not only intensifies the surreal aspect but also adds a sense of scale and depth to the scene.

Lastly, creating a fusion of human and urban elements helps to emphasize the coexistence and interaction of man-made and natural elements, a key theme in many surrealistic works.

A dreamlike image of a woman with a waterfall flowing from her hair, standing in a desert, symbolizing the source of life.

By mentioning dreamlike image, you're signaling Midjourney to tap into the surrealism art style, which favors bizarre, dreamlike scenarios over realism.

The description of a woman with a waterfall flowing from her hair evokes a powerful, fantastical image that challenges conventional norms, a key characteristic of surrealism.

Her standing in a desert, a typically lifeless location, juxtaposed with the waterfall, a symbol of life, creates an intriguing contrast that intensifies the surrealistic quality.

Lastly, by adding symbolizing the source of life, you're incorporating a deeper, symbolic meaning into the artwork, a common trait in surrealistic pieces.

A bizarre scene of a man painting the sunset with a giant brush, with the colors dripping into the sea, creating a surreal artist's fantasy.

By mentioning a bizarre scene, you're directing Midjourney to create an image that defies conventional logic and norms, a key characteristic of surrealism.

The detail of a man painting the sunset with a giant brush introduces an element of dreamlike distortion and exaggerated scale, contributing to the surreal quality.

When you specify colors dripping into the sea, you're encouraging Midjourney to incorporate dynamic, flowing elements that blur the boundaries between different components of the scene, a common feature in surreal art.

The phrase creating a surreal artist's fantasy reinforces the overall theme and encourages a creative, imaginative approach to the composition.

 

Conclusion

Wow! We've journeyed far.

From ethereal, dreamlike landscapes to odd, whimsical characters, Midjourney equips you to bring stunning surrealistic art to life with ease.

It's your creative ally when you're in a rut, your spark for fresh concepts, and your guide to crafting striking visuals that leave a lasting impression.

But remember this:

Midjourney is a tool, not a replacement for your unique artistic vision.

Blend its abilities with your personal creativity to craft something truly extraordinary.

Now, it's your time.

Choose one or two prompts from this guide and plunge into your next masterpiece. You might be surprised by the magic you can create.

And if you’re looking to explore more tools beyond Midjourney, visit Galaxy.ai.

With all the top image generation models — including Midjourney — in one place, it’s the ultimate hub for artists and creators like you.

Happy creating! 🎨