(1904 - 1989)
Salvador Dali, born on May 11, 1904, in Spain, is a Surrealist painter and printmaker, influential for his explorations of subconscious imagery. He studied from the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid starting in 1922 but left the academy abruptly in 1926. It was during this time that he started developing the artistic style that he will employ for most of his career. The evolution on his style from 1929 to 1939 cemented his status as one of the world's great Surrealist artist. He later switched to painting in a more academic style following the influence of Renaissance painter Raphael and his expulsion from the Paris Surrealist group. Thereafter, he spent his time designing theater sets, interiors for fashion shops, and jewelry while keeping with his flamboyant antics and self-promotional stunt. In the period between 1950 to 1970, Dali started works with religious subjects, although he continued to explore the erotic. Dali produced over 1,500 paintings in his career in addition to producing illustrations for books, lithographs, designs for theatre sets and costumes, a great number of drawings, dozens of sculptures, and various other projects. He was conferred as Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 1964 and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III in 1981. He was also an associate member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium (1972), a member of the Legion of Honor, and an associate member of the Academie des Beaux-Arts of the Institut de France. In 1982, he was created Marquis de Dalí de Púbol, by King Juan Carlos of Spain. His works are in permanent exhibitions in Art Bank, Pargas, Finland; Dali - Die Ausstellung am Portsdamer Platz - Berlin, Germany; Dali Theatre and Museum, Catalonia, Spain; Dali Universe, London; Dali17 - Monterey, California ; Espace Dali, Paris, France; Gala Dali House Museum, Castle of Pubol, Spain; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain; Museum-Gallery Xpo: Salvador Dali, Belgium; Salvador Dalí Gallery, San Juan Capistrano, California; Salvador Dali House Museum, Port Lligat, Spain; and in the Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida. Dali passed away in January 1989.