Salvador Dali is the most recognized surrealist artist, having studied in Barcelona and Madrid at the Academy of San Fernando, where he met notable figures like Lorca and Buñuel. His early artistic influences included Gris's cubism and De Chirico's metaphysical work, which ultimately led him to embrace surrealism alongside Buñuel. In 1924, he was expelled from the Academy, which coincided with his growing interest in Freud's psychoanalysis, a significant element in his work. His pivotal trip to Paris in 1927 proved crucial for his career, granting him friendships with Picasso and Breton, and a newfound admiration for artists like Tanguy and the mannerist Arcimboldo.

Dali co-created the film "Andalusian Dog" with Buñuel in 1929, and he introduced the idea of "critical paranoia," an approach encouraging the rejection of conventional logic and advocating for the discredit of reality. Throughout the late 1930s, he traveled to Italy to study the works of the great masters and established a studio in Rome, continuing his artistic pursuits. A meeting with Freud in London inspired a subsequent trip to America, during which he published his autobiography, "The Secret Life of Salvador Dali," in 1942. Afterward, he settled permanently in Port Lligat with his wife, Gala, who was previously married to his friend, poet Paul Éluard. 

From 1970 until his death, Dali focused on the design and construction of his museum, while also engaging in sculpture, jewelry, and furniture design, thereby expanding his creative legacy beyond painting.

Joan Miró began his artistic journey by training as a painter at La Lonja School in Barcelona. In 1912, he entered Francisco Gali's art school, where he was exposed to the works of French impressionists and Fauvists. During this period, he fostered friendships with influential artists such as Picabia and Picasso—aligning himself with their cubist circle for a time. By 1920, Miró had settled in Paris, returning to Montroig during the summer months. In Paris, he joined a cadre of fellow painters, including Masson, Leiris, Artaud, and Lial. His pivotal work, "La masía," created two years later, significantly shaped his stylistic evolution and showcased his graphic precision. This marked a radical transformation in his painting style, which André Breton later praised as being quintessential to surrealism, elevating Miró to the status of a 'great lonely genius' of 20th-century art history. The enchanting quality of Miró's work lies in his canvases, which combine clear features and sincere shapes, appearing accessible yet often challenging to interpret. Besides painting, Miró explored ceramics and sculpture, ultimately transcending his pictorial interests.

Frida Kahlo, born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón in 1907, was a prominent Mexican painter who passed away in 1954. Although often categorized as a surrealist, Kahlo rejected this label, asserting that her art depicted her own reality rather than dreams. She was an advocate for the revival of Aztec culture as a response to European imperialism. Her artistic education began at the National Preparatory School, where she was enrolled at an early age. At 18, a severe bus accident changed the course of her life, leading her to paint during her recovery. In August 1929, she married fellow artist Diego Rivera, and their tumultuous marriage was marked by instability. They resided in the United States from 1931 to 1934, but Kahlo and Rivera divorced in 1939, though they maintained an on-and-off relationship thereafter. She showcased her art at the Renon et Collea gallery in Paris in 1939. Kahlo experienced personal anguish, suffering three miscarriages and struggling with alcohol abuse as a means to cope with constant emotional pain. Kahlo's artistic style is characterized by her focus on unconventional subjects, influenced by Mexican indigenous folk art, Aztec culture, Marxist ideology, and avant-garde movements. Her works often include self-portraits, depictions of desolate landscapes, and imaginative scenes, utilizing strong, vivid colors and symbolic elements that reflect her personal life and experiences.