Opening August 28, 2025, at the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago,

Buñuel: Master of Dreams pays tribute to visionary filmmaker Luis Buñuel, tracing his journey through exile, dream, and cinematic revolution. Marking the centennial of Surrealism, the exhibition explores Buñuel’s poetic imagination, his literary adaptations, and his lifelong fascination with collage as an artistic practice.

A centerpiece of the exhibition is the mysterious return of Buñuel’s ashes—vanished for over four decades following his death in Mexico City in 1983. Long rumored to have been kept in a monastery, his remains were recently returned to his son, Rafael Buñuel. Their presence now marks a symbolic homecoming to the land where Buñuel first set out to raise his family and pursue his cinematic vision.

The exhibition features personal family archives, rare books, awards, and ephemera that accompanied Buñuel in exile from Spain in 1936 until his death. A curated selection of contemporary surrealist artists will also contribute, including acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin.

Maddin presents original collage works and film screenings in dialogue with Buñuel’s legacy. Presented by the Luis Buñuel Film Institute, the exhibition explores Surrealism across generations.

Additional programming includes special live performances (TBA) and a citywide film retrospective in Chicago.

Buñuel’s ashes will be unveiled on November 1, 2025, in observance of Día de los Muertos.

The exhibition runs August 28, 2025 – February 22, 2026, marking the 125th birthday of Luis Buñuel.