GRAB YOUR COSTUME: SURREAL SALON SOIREE set for SAT, JANUARY 24
tickets available NOW!
For the 18th time, Baton Rouge Gallery - center for contemporary art (“BRG”) is excited to invite you to the Surreal Salon Soiree - the annual celebration of the Surreal Salon exhibition! The big night is set for January 24, 2026. Come be a part of one of the weirdest nights in Louisiana’s capital city with art from across the globe, wild costumes, live music, and a couple surprises.
For more than a decade, Surreal Salon has given audiences a unique look at pop-surrealism and lowbrow art from artists across the U.S. and across the globe. This year, the exhibition - curated by internationally renowned artist Swoon - features more than 60 artists. The Soiree is a way for everyone to, for one night, transform into their own work of art and join the exhibition while celebrating the work of the show’s featured artists.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 7 - 11pm
TICKET PRICING
$50 in advance // $40 for BRG Members in advance
$60 at the door // $50 for BRG Members at the door
PERFORMING LIVE: BON BON VIVANT
Bon Bon Vivant’s dynamic sound fuses the pulse of their New Orleans home with the grit of indie and the heart of Americana. Their music is a tribute to life, from the chaotic to the captivating and everything in between with a sound that balances infectious energy with introspective depth, drawing listeners into a world of captivating rhythms and evocative storytelling. Their eccentricity is as likely to captivate a curious NPR listener as it is to draw in the wandering festival-goer.
For Bon Bon Vivant, live performance is about more than music—it’s storytelling in motion. Their shows are charged and immersive, pulling audiences into a world that’s both intimate and theatrical.
“Cabaret meets indie meets dance music”
Bon Bon Vivant boasts a sound rich with the swaggering jazz one would expect from a New Orleans band, but the music’s texture does not stop there. What’s undeniable is the craftsmanship that goes into the final product. Cosio’s throaty, expressive vocals defy genre, and the personality of the horns makes each song unique.” - Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
PERFORMING LIVE: MONOBLACK
Monoblack, originating in 2018 and hailing from Baton Rouge, LA, is an innovative DIY musician, producer, and designer. His commitment to simplicity in performance is mirrored in his dark and experimental IDM electronic music, featuring subtle foley sounds, distorted basses, rhythmic drums, and minimal yet memorable melodies. Monoblack's dedication to crafting an immersive experience extends from the studio to the stage and beyond.
Monoblack’s performance is in support of and in conjunction with Ellemnop’s upcoming “The Monsters We Sometimes Become” exhibition and audio experience (June 2026).
AND THEN THERE’S THE COSTUMES…
Over the years, the costumes seen at the Surreal Salon Soiree have taken on a life all their own. From video game characters to woodland creatures, there’s intentionally never a single theme for the Soiree because its more fun to see what happens without one!
We invite everyone to put together their most outlandish costume for the Soiree; in part, because you’ll likely feel completely out of place if you don’t come in costume!
Check out some of our personal favorites from just the most recent Soiree events and then come check out what 2026’s attendees have up their sleeves!
Photos courtesy of Julia Rose Photography / Heather McClelland