Before his dive into Surrealism, Dali studied other art forms like Cubism and Futurism, before perfecting his "paranoiac-critical" (self described) form of interpretation with which he painted. Aside from his well-known famous works he also did a great deal of sketching and watercolors from mythology, tarot cards and works of classic authors like Ovid and Dante. Was kicked out of the Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid where he studied for a "lack of discipline".
Probably offended quite a few people with works like his "Hitler Masturbating", and "Young Virgin Auto-Sodomized By Her Own Chastity".