Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali, born on May 11, 1904, in Figueres, Spain, was a renowned artist known for his Surrealist masterpieces. He had a deep connection to Spain, and his early artistic journey began in his childhood studio in Cadaques. Dali studied at the San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid and gained recognition with his 1925 Barcelona exhibition. He joined the Surrealist Movement in 1929 and met Gala Eluard, who became his lover and muse.

Dali's iconic work, "The Persistence of Memory," featured melting watches. He led the Surrealist Movement until his clash with the group in 1934. Dali's art evolved to incorporate science and religion, and he and Gala moved to the United States during World War II. In 1941, the Museum of Modern Art in New York held his first major exhibit, and he published his autobiography in 1942.

During his classic period, Dali created notable pieces like "The Hallucinogenic Toreador" and "The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus." He opened the Teatro Museo in Figueres in 1974 and had retrospectives in Paris and London. After Gala's death in 1982, Dali's health declined, and he passed away on January 23, 1989, in Figueres due to heart failure.