Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) was a Spanish artist of extraordinary imagination and flamboyant self invention, widely regarded as the most iconic figure of the Surrealist movement. Born in Figueres, Catalonia, his paintings conjure dreamlike worlds of impossible precision, blending meticulous draughtsmanship with deeply unsettling imagery drawn from the subconscious and his own elaborate personal mythology. His works, among them the celebrated melting watches of The Persistence of Memory, remain amongst the most recognisable images in twentieth century art. Beyond the canvas he was a consummate showman who collaborated with filmmakers, fashion designers and advertisers, cultivating a public persona as outrageous as his art, and his influence on visual culture proved truly immeasurable.

Photograph by Roger Higgins, World Telegram staff photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons