Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, from 1982 Marqués de Púbol (1904 - 1989) is one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. Born in Catalonia, he was a painter, sculptor, stage designer and writer, and one of the most important figures of surrealism. Dalí's interest in art grew in his childhood, especially through his encounters with painters and artists; thanks to his father's encouragement of his talent, he studied painting, sculpture and graphic arts at the Academia San Fernando in Madrid. Due to his outstanding talent, he found a lot of support and had early meetings with renowned artists. On a trip to France, he joined the Surrealist group and intensively studied the texts of Sigmund Freud.
Because of his alleged closeness to the politics of National Socialism, he was excluded from the Surrealist group. In 1940 he fled to the United States with his family before World War 2 and lived in New York City and Pebble Beach in California until 1948. There he painted and worked as a writer and set designer for film.
An important role in Dalí's life and work was played by his wife and muse, Gala, who modeled many of his works and supported and inspired him in many places.
As a place for his art, Dalí built his Teatre-Museu Dalí from the remains of the destroyed theater in the city of Figueres, which is still an internationally known and much visited attraction today. Dalí had himself buried in the crypt of the museum after his death.
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