Where is The Persistence of Memory located?

Where is the Persistence of Memory?

The Persistence of Memory

The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dalí

The painting The Persistence of Memory is located at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. This Surrealist masterpiece by Salvador Dalí is held within the museum's permanent collection, where it is displayed for public viewing among other significant works of modern art.

The artwork is an oil on canvas piece measuring approximately 9.5 x 13 inches (24.1 x 33 cm). While some catalog entries refer to a bronze sculpture version of this theme, the primary 1931 painting remains a central fixture of the MoMA galleries in New York.

Key details regarding the work include:

• Artist: Salvador Dalí
• Movement: Surrealism
• Medium: Oil on canvas
• Location: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Can I see this artwork in person?

Yes, you can view The Persistence of Memory in person at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The painting is part of the museum's permanent collection and is accessible to visitors exploring the institution's galleries dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

Because the painting is relatively small—roughly the size of a piece of paper or a shoebox—it requires close inspection to appreciate the meticulous details, such as the ants on the orange watch and the distorted facial features. Visitors often find the work situated within the museum's prominent displays of Surrealist history.

For those unable to visit New York, WikiOO offers high-quality, hand-painted oil reproductions of this masterpiece. Our artists use classical techniques on premium cotton canvas to recreate the textures and precise brushstrokes found in Dalí’s original 1931 work, allowing you to possess a captivating piece of Surrealist history.

What is the history of this painting's location?

Julien Levy

Julien Levy (1906-1981) was a pivotal New York art dealer championing Surrealism & avant-garde artists like Dalí, Kahlo, and Ernst. Discover his gallery's impact on American Modern Art & photography.

The painting was gifted anonymously to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1934. Before arriving in New York, the artwork moved through notable European and American galleries, including Galerie Pierre Colle in Paris and the Gallery Julien Levy in New York City.

The historical timeline of the work's movement and sale includes several recorded stages:

• 1931: Completion of the painting by Salvador Dalí.
• 1932: The work was exhibited at the Julien Levy Gallery and sold for $250.
• 1934: The painting was donated anonymously to MoMA, where it has remained since.

The provenance of the piece tracks its transition from the early Surrealist circles in Paris to its permanent home in the United States. This trajectory highlights the movement's expansion from Europe to the global art center of New York during the mid-1930s.