Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) was a renowned Spanish surrealist artist known for his imaginative and eccentric works. He was born on May 11, 1904, in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain.

Dalí showed artistic talent from a young age and began his formal art education at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid. He experimented with various artistic styles, including impressionism and cubism, before fully embracing surrealism in the 1920s. Surrealism aimed to explore the unconscious mind and challenge conventional notions of reality.

Dalí's artworks are characterized by their dreamlike and hallucinatory quality, featuring unexpected juxtapositions of objects, distorted forms, and symbolic imagery. One of his most famous paintings, "The Persistence of Memory" (1931), with its melting clocks, has become an iconic representation of surrealism.

In addition to painting, Dalí also worked in various other artistic mediums, including sculpture, film, photography, and performance art. He collaborated with filmmakers, such as Luis Buñuel, on the groundbreaking surrealist film "Un Chien Andalou" (1929). Dalí also designed theatrical sets and costumes, created jewelry, and even wrote books on art theory and autobiography.

Dalí's flamboyant personality, distinctive mustache, and theatrical behavior contributed to his fame. He often used shock tactics and deliberate self-promotion to garner attention. Despite his controversial nature, Dalí's contributions to art and the surrealist movement were significant and highly influential.

Salvador Dalí passed away on January 23, 1989, in Figueres, Spain. His legacy as one of the most important figures in 20th-century art endures. His works can be found in major museums around the world, and his impact on the art world and popular culture remains profound.