Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,195 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,990 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,990 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,213 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,195 cutting edge ideas.

Border Crossing Surrealism

Tim O’Brien Takes His Photorealistic Artwork in a New Direction

— June 17, 2012 — Art & Design
With a blend of compelling metaphors and bizarre imagery, Tim O’Brien creates beautiful surrealistic paintings. The talented illustrator and painter has had his work featured in a variety of notable publications including TIME Magazine, Rolling Stone, The New York Times and many more.

O’Brien’s artwork spans from photorealistic portraits to contemporary issues to outlandish imagery. Oftentimes the paintings encourage the forfeiture of a grounded standpoint in the efforts of drawing out new impressions and attitudes. One image displays a chicken, half of which is alive with the other half being cooked. The divide between living and cooked is marked by plastic wrap -- an interesting portrayal of what distinguishes a chicken from ever being more than a cooked dinner meal.

Masterfully drawn, Tim Obrien’s work is absorbing on several levels, both emotionally and intuitively.
Trend Themes
1. Surrealist Art - Artists and designers can explore the use of metaphors and bizarre imagery to create beautiful and mind-bending surrealist artwork that challenges traditional perspectives.
2. Contemporary Illustration - The incorporation of photorealistic and fantastical elements can bring innovative and captivating visual content to a range of publications and media.
3. Nonconformist Imagery - By breaking away from traditional imagery, creators can bring fresh and unconventional interpretations to various topics and concepts.
Industry Implications
1. Media and Publishing - By infusing unique and visionary visual elements, media and publishing industries can create standout content that sets them apart from competitors.
2. Fine Art - Surrealist artists can disrupt and push the boundaries of the art world with their abstract and thought-provoking creations.
3. Advertising and Marketing - By utilizing creative and nonconformist imagery, advertising and marketing professionals can craft ads and campaigns that grab attention and appeal to audiences in new ways.
5.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness