The Dali Museum in Florida is not to be missed if you are visiting the Tampa Bay area. With its unparalleled collection of Salvador Dali's art, featuring more than 2,000 of his works, it is one of the most acclaimed collections of a single modern artist in the world. It is also the only museum in the Southeastern United States recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating. Located on the St. Petersburg waterfront, it is considered the most prestigious cultural attractions in the area. In this post, you will learn all you need to know about how to visit this fascinating attraction.

The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg Florida
The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg Florida – photo by Yvonne Jasinski

You do not have to be an art lover to be impressed with the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.  The paintings, provocative and full of drama, will get your attention immediately. Each piece forces you to stop and digest what you see.

The more you see, the more you are drawn into the darkness of Dali's creations. Eventually, it feels like you are dreaming those uneasy scenes, often frightening but captivating at the same time.

Salvador Dali portrait in The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida
Salvador Dali – photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Visiting Salvador Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida

Who was Salvador Dali?

Salvador Dali – Early Years

The artist was born in Figueres, Spain, on May 11, 1904. His older brother died at a young age and left his parents devastated by a loss of their first child. During Salvador's childhood, his parents' grief impacted him deeply. The constant reminder of mortality influenced the artist throughout his life.

Most likely because of his early years overshadowed by his brother's death, in his adult life, Salvador wanted to shine on his own. He became eccentric, vain, and narcissistic and indulged in the good life and loved the limelight. He cultivated exhibitionism and eccentricity in the work he created, but also in the way in which he presented himself to the world.

Portrait of My Dead Brother - Salvador Dali 1963. The Dali Museum, Florida.
Portrait of My Dead Brother – Salvador Dali 1963. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski.

Dali's Artistic Style

Dali is mostly associated with Surrealism. His creations expressed symbolism, some of it straight from Freud, and some of it from Dali's own imagination. His preferred painting process was the paranoiac-critical method. The artist would simulate mental exercise leading to a paranoid state, then develop and paint the hallucinatory images he had seen. Later in life, his style gradually evolved into different genres.

Dali's work included painting, graphic arts, film, sculpture, design, and photography. He also wrote fiction, poetry, autobiography, essays, and criticism. Major themes in his work include dreams, subconsciousness, sexuality, religion, science, and his closest personal relationships. All of this interest is easily visible in the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.

Weaning of Furniture- Nutrition Salvador Dali 1934 in The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida
Weaning of Furniture – Nutrition Salvador Dali 1934. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

The Dali Museum in Florida

The Dali Museum has been open to the public since March 10, 1980. Based on the collection compiled by Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, the museum features nearly 100 Dali oil paintings, along with drawings, graphics, sculptures, photographs, and other art.

Memory of the Child-Woman - Salvador Dali 1931. The Dali Museum in St. Petersbug, Florida.
Memory of the Child-Woman – Salvador Dali 1931. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Reynolds and Eleanor Morse – the founders of the Dali Museum

Reynolds and Eleanor Morse from Cleveland, Ohio, started buying Dali's works before their marriage in 1942. Their fascination with his work and eventually a friendship with the painter continued for the next 40 years and resulted in a comprehensive collection of original Dali's work. When their collection drew national attention, they found a final home for it in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Apparatus and Hand - Salvador Dali 1927. The Dali Museum Florida.
Apparatus and Hand – Salvador Dali 1927. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

The mission of the Dali Museum in Florida

"The Museum's nonprofit mission, to care for and share its collection locally and internationally, is grounded by a commitment to education and sustained by a culture of philanthropy."

The building

The building hosting Dali's work is a piece of art its own featuring 1,062 triangular glass panels, a fitting tribute to Salvador Dali's legacy of innovation and transformation.

The Ram - Salvador Ali - 1928. The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Ram – Salvador Ali – 1928. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Dali Museum in Florida – Location

The museum is located on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront by 5th Avenue Southeast, Bay Shore Drive, and Dan Wheldon Way.

Address: 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Phone: 727-823-3767

Website

Hours

Galleries are open daily 10 am-5:30 pm (until 8 pm on Thursdays). The Museum Store & Avant-gardens remain open for 30 minutes after the galleries close.

The Hallucinogenic Toreador - Salvador Dali, 1970. The Dali Museum, Florida.
The Hallucinogenic Toreador – Salvador Dali, 1970. Look for a face in the upper right, above the green tie. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski.

The Dali Museum in Florida – Prices

Prices (Standard Admission | Discounted Group Admission)
Adults (age 18-64): $25 | $22
Seniors (age 65+): $23 | $20
Students (age 6-12): $10 | $7
Students (age 13-17): $18 | $14
College Students: $17 | $14
Children age 5 or younger: Free | Free
Members: Free | Free

Homage to Crick and Watson - Salvador Dali 1953. The Dali Museum in Florida.
Homage to Crick and Watson – Salvador Dali 1953. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski.

How to visit the Dali Museum in Florida

You can visit the museum on your own, but I strongly recommend getting a guided tour. Dali's art is extremely complex, and if you are not already familiar with the details of his work, you will miss a lot without guidance. Almost every piece forces you to dig deep into it to uncover its symbolism and emotions.

Many scenes under close examination become something else, and most likely, you would not be able to find them without help.

Additionally, during the guided tour, you will learn more about the artist and his complicated and unorthodox life. The museum offers free docent-led public tours of the galleries and a special architectural building tour on weekends. It also provides private docent-led tours for an additional fee in many languages with advanced reservations.

The Discovery of America -Salvador Dali,1958. The Dali Museum in Florida.
The Discovery of America -Salvador Dali,1958. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski.

Avant Garden at the Dali Museum in Florida

On the waterfront of Tampa Bay, the Avant-garden creates a unique environment of learning and tranquility. It was inspired by local flora and by Dali's fascination with duality, art, and nature. From the picturesque Grotto with its Living Wall to sculptures, a labyrinth, Wish Tree, the garden offers plenty to explore.

Portrait of My Sister - Salvador Dali, 1923. The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Portrait of My Sister – Salvador Dali, 1923. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski.

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