"I make no distinction between painting and poetry...." The poetic paintings of 20th century master Joan Miró amuse, inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

Born in Barcelona, Spain, Miró studied art at School of Fine Arts at La Llotja and Gali's Escola d'Art. His earliest works show the influence of the Fauve and Cubist movements which were fashionable in Spain during the early part of the century. In 1920, Miró traveled to Paris and painted with Surrealists André Masson and Max Ernst. While frequently identified with the Surrealist movement, Miró never fully accepted the movement's creed and refused to sign the Surrealist Manifesto.

Miró's vibrant canvases transport the viewer to alien worlds inhabited by all manner of whimsical creatures. Throughout his life, Miró felt a deep connection to his Catalan heritage and much of the symbolism that is so prevalent in his work is deeply rooted in this bond. In 1940 Miró returned to Spain and began to explore new media including large scale sculpture, ceramics, murals and tapestries. Following his first retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art in 1941, Miró achieved international acclaim and is recognized as a pioneer of Modernism.