Bronze sculptures in surreal and avant-garde art often defy conventional aesthetics, embracing themes that challenge reality and provoke thought. One prevalent theme is the distortion of the human form, where artists like Salvador Dalí and Hans Arp manipulate bodies into fluid, fragmented, or elongated shapes to evoke subconscious emotions. Another recurring motif is dreamlike hybrids, combining human, animal, and mechanical elements to create unsettling yet captivating figures.

Abstract symbolism is also prominent, with bronze used to craft melting clocks (inspired by Dalí’s "Persistence of Memory") or floating objects that defy gravity. These works explore time, instability, and the unconscious mind. Additionally, organic abstraction—inspired by nature but stripped of realism—appears in works by Jean Arp, where smooth, biomorphic forms suggest growth and decay.

Finally, avant-garde bronze sculptures often tackle existential or political themes, using surreal imagery to critique society. For instance, Alberto Giacometti’s spindly figures symbolize postwar alienation. By blending craftsmanship with radical ideas, these themes cement bronze’s role as a medium for surreal and avant-garde expression.