On view in the James Family Wing
This special presentation of original drawings, preliminary sketches and archival material captures the friendship of Salvador Dalí with comedian Harpo Marx, a meeting of two brilliant imaginations from the worlds of art and comedy that began in 1936.
Dalí saw in the Marx Brothers’ films a reflection of his own pursuit to give form to the irrational with precision and wit. After meeting Harpo in Paris, the pair reunited in Hollywood and developed a lively creative bond that led to visionary plans for a Surrealist film, Giraffes on Horseback Salad. Although never realized, Dalí’s art, writing and ephemera surrounding the project reveal its legacy as a remarkable fusion of Surrealism and slapstick.
Works are drawn from The Dalí Museum’s permanent collection and a Private Collection, courtesy of Di Donna Galleries.