The artist known for the work "The Persistence of Memory" is Salvador Dalí. This surreal painting, created in 1931, is famous for its depiction of melting clocks and dreamlike scenery, symbolizing the fluidity of time and the nature of reality. Dalí's style, rich in imagination and bizarre imagery, became a defining characteristic of the Surrealist movement, influencing countless artists and interpreting the human subconscious.