Russian artist
Gala

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Lover, companion and inspirational muse of Salvador Dalí, Gala was an essential element for the artist from Cadaqués

Elena Diakonova, better known as Gala, was born in Kazán (Russia) in 1894. In 1913, ill with tuberculosis, she was sent by her family to the Swiss sanatorium of Clavadel, where she met the French poet Paul Éluard. In 1917 she married the French artist and with him, began her first steps in the flourishing surrealistic Parisian movement, together with his friends André Breton, Louis Aragon and Max Ernst.

She met Salvador Dalí during the summer of 1929, in the summer stay of Portlligat, where the young Salvador of that time was painting and spending his vacation. During that short stay, Gala took the decision to leave her husband to stay with Dalí. She had then 35 years and Dalí, 25. It was love at first sight for him, but it was a Gala who took a firm decision: "We will never separate again".

From then on Gala was converted in to the model, muse and inseparable partner of Dalí and followed him on his through all of Europe and the USA. From 1971 until 1980, Gala resided sporadically in the Castle of Púbol, where today one finds her grave. From 1996 this castle is opened to the public as House-Museum Castle Gala-Dalí.

The muse of the artist Dalí served him as an inspiration for all his life, not only artistically, but also a partner, for his complex personality, and his troubled affective and sexual life.