Spanish artist Salvador Dali is perhaps the most famous Surrealist painter in the history of art.  He is best known for the bizarre, unrealistic qualities of his paintings and sculpture.  In Explosion, for example, he paints a melting clock.  Beyond his unconventional artwork, Dali was also famous for his strange behavior.  He enjoyed drawing attention to himself by spending money extravagantly, and making outrageous statements to the press.

With regards to appearance, Dali's pointy moustache became an icon.  Dali used wax to arrange it in different positions.  He usually kept his dark hair slicked back with copious amounts of hair product.  With regard to Dali's clothing, he was rumored to wear shoes that were two sizes too small because it "kept him alert."  

Dali rolled his "r's" in an exaggerated fashion when he spoke, and often referred to himself in the third person. He had a very large ego, and often boasted of how much money his paintings were worth.  In one of his most famous quotes, he told the press: “There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad."  Dali liked making grand entrances, and did such things as arriving to an exhibition opening in a limousine full of turnips.

Dali and his wife Gala threw elaborate parties at their castle in Cadaques, a small Spanish sea side town.  Among other oddities, Dali's house contains a stuffed polar bear wearing necklaces, and a partially-enclosed lap pool.  The house has since been opened to the public as a museum.