1893 20 April: Birth of Joan Miró i Ferrá at 9.00 p.m. at number 4 Passatge del Crèdit, Barcelona. His father, Miquel Miró i Adzerias, son of a blacksmith in Cornudella, was a watchmaker and silversmith. His mother, Dolors Ferrà i Oromí, was the daughter of a cabinet-maker in Palma, Majorca.

1900 Begins primary school at Carrer del Regomir 13, Barcelona, where he attends drawing classes given by Sr. Civil.

1901 The earliest preserved drawings, now at the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona, date from this year.

1907 Enrols at the School of Commerce in Barcelona. At the same time he attends classes at the School of Industrial and Fine Arts (the Llotja) until 1910, where his teachers are Modest Urgell and Josep Pascó.

1910 Works as an accounts clerk at Dalmau i Oliveres drugstore in Barcelona. Participates for the first time at an exhibition of old and modern portraits and drawings organised by the City Council.

1911 His inability to adapt to the job at Dalmau i Oliveres affects his health. He catches typhoid fever and spends time convalescing in Mont-roig (province of Tarragona) at the farm recently bought by his parents.

1912 Decides to devote himself entirely to painting and enrols in the school of art run by Francesc Galí, which he attends until 1915. Among his fellow students are Joan Prats, Josep Francesc Ráfols, Enric Cristòfol Ricart and possibly Josep Llorens Artigas, among others.

1913 Enrols in the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc, where he attends life classes. Here he meets up again with Joan Prats, with whom he forms a close friendship.

1916 Meets the dealer Josep Dalmau, who shows an interest in his work. Rents a studio with E.C Ricart in Carrer de Sant Pere més Baix 51, Barcelona, which they share until 1918.

1917 Through Josep Dalmau he probably meets Maurice Raynal and Francis Picabia. Takes an interest in poetry and reads Catalan and French avant-garde reviews such as Pierre Reverdy's Nord-Sud and Albert Birot's SIC . Visits the "Exposition d'Art Français" in Barcelona.

1918 Forms part of the Agrupació Courbet together with Josep Llorens Artigas, J.F. Ràfols, E.C. Ricart, Rafael Sala, Francesc Domingo and Marià Espinal, all students of Gali´s art school and the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc. First one-man show at the Galeries Dalmau, Barcelona.

1920 Travels to Paris for the first time, where Josep Dalmau tries to organise an exhibition for him. Visits Picasso in his studio.

1921 In Paris until 1925, where he has the use of Pablo Gargallo's studio at 45 Rue Blomet during the academic terms. Spends the rest of the year mainly at Mont-roig. First solo exhibition in Paris at the Galerie La Licorne, organised by Josep Dalmau. The introduction to the catalogue is written by Maurice Raynal.

1922 In Paris, living and working at 45 Rue Blomet. Becomes friendly with André Masson, who is a neighbour, and with Roland Tual.

1923 Through Masson he meets Michel Leiris and probably Antonin Artaud, Robert Desnos, Jean Dubuffet, Paul Eluard, Marcel Jouhandeau, Georges Limbour, Raymond Queneau and Armand Salacrou. He also meets Ernest Hemingway, who purchases The farm , and Ezra Pound. In Mont-roig he begins painting Tilled field, Catalan landscape (The hunter) and Pastoral , which mark a turning point in his art.

1924 Avant-garde poets and writers gather in Masson's studio at 45 Rue Blomet. Miró's friends during this period are Max Jacob, Michel Leiris, Georges Limbour, Benjamin Péret, Armand Salacrou and Roland Tual.

1925 André Breton meets Miró during a visit to the studio in the Rue Blomet. First solo exhibition at the Galerie Pierre, Paris.

1926 Moves into a new studio at 22 Rue Tourlaque, in the Cité des Fusains. His neighbours are Max Ernst, Hans Arp and probably Paul Eluard and Camille Goemans. Diaghilev commissions Miró and Ernst to design the sets and costumes for the ballet Romeo and Juliet to be performed by the Ballets Russes.

1928 Produces the first object-collages titled Spanish dancer . Visits Belgium and Holland. Paints the Dutch interiors in Mont-roig.

1929 Works on the series known as "Imaginary portraits". Marries Pilar Juncosa in Palma, Majorca. They settle in Paris, in an apartment at 3 Rue François Mouton.

1930 Works on a series of paintings in very varied styles. According to Miró, they are a farewell to painting, albeit a temporary one, as he wishes to work in other media such as bas relief, sculpture, etc. Birth of his only daughter, Maria Dolors, in Barcelona. In Mont-roig he produces his first three-dimensional pieces. First one-man show in the United States, at the Valentine Gallery, New York.

1931 In Mont-roig he starts a series of paintings on Ingres paper and object-paintings.

1932 Through Joan Prats he meets the architect Josep Lluís Sert. Decides to spend more time in Barcelona. Lives and works in the family home at Passatge del Crèdit 4 until 1936. Works on a new series of objects. Designs the curtain, sets, costumes and objects for the ballet Jeux d'enfants performed by the Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo, with scenario by Boris Kochno, music by Georges Bizet and choreography by Léonide Massine. First one-man show at the Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York.

1933 Works on a series of 18 collages and then on the paintings based on them. Publication of Enfances by Georges Hugnet, the first book illustrated by Miró with etchings.

1934 Signs a contract with Pierre Matisse, who represents him in the United States.

1936  Starts a series of 27 paintings on masonite. Travels to Paris with his latest works, which are to be exhibited in New York. Due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, he decides to stay in Paris. His wife and daughter join him, and they remain in France until 1940.

1937 Living and working in an apartment at 98 Boulevard Auguste Blanqui, Paris. Attends life classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiére, where he produces a large number of drawings. Produces a large mural painting, The reaper ( Catalan peasant in revolt ), for the Spanish Republican Government's pavilion, designed by Josep Lluís Sert and Luis Lacasa, at the Paris World Fair.

1938 Works on etchings and dry-point engravings with Marcoussis and prints these at the studios of Roger Lacourière and Stanley W. Hayter.

1939 Leaves Paris in the summer and rents a house in Varengeville-sur-Mer, Normandy, where the family remain until 1940.

1940 In January he starts a series of 23 gouaches, which he continues in Palma and completes in Mont-roig in September 1941. This series was later to be known as the Constellations . The Germans bomb Normandy at the end of May and Miró decides to return to Spain with his family, where they settle in Palma (Majorca).

1941 First large retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Organisation and catalogue by James Johnson Sweeney.

1942 Continues working exclusively on paper. Returns to Barcelona and lives at Passatge del Crèdit 4. 1943 Continues working exclusively on paper, with the sole known exception of Painting with art nouveau frame , from the Joan Prts collection.

1944 Produces his first ceramics, using materials from an unsuccessful firing in 1941 by Josep Llorens Artigas. This is the start of the first period of collaboration between them, which continues until 1947. Publication of the set of 50 lithographs known as the Barcelona series , under the supervision of Joan Prats. Returns to painting on canvas, which he had virtually abandoned since 1939.

1945 Works on several series of large-format paintings.

1946 Produces his first bronze sculptures. 1947 First trip to the United States, where he produces a mural painting for the Gourmet Room at the Terrace Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati. During his stay in New York he frequents Stanley W. Hayter's studio Atelier 17, where he explores engraving techniques. Takes part in "Le Surréalisme en 1947: Exposition internationale du surréalisme" at the Galerie Maeght, Paris, organised by André Breton and Marcel Duchamp.

1948 First solo exhibition at the Galerie Maeght, Paris. Aimé Maeght becomes his new representative in France.

1949 This year and next he alternates between two types of painting: one more reflective and the other more gestural and impulsive. Although based in Barcelona, he makes frequent visits to Paris to work on printing techniques at the Mourlot printing studio (lithographs) and at the Atelier Lacourière (engravings). His work on ceramics and sculpture becomes increasingly intensive. Exhibition at the Galerías Layetanas, Barcelona, sponsored by Cobalto 49.

1950 In Barcelona, living and working at Passatge del Crèdit 4 until the autumn, when he moves to a flat at Carrer de Folgaroles 9, where he also works, although he keeps on the studio in the Passatge del Crèdit. Starts work on the mural painting for the dining hall at Harkness Commons, Harvard University, commissioned by Walter Gropius, which he completes the following year.

1951 In Mont-roig, working on sculptures in a studio he had built at the farm.

1952 Second visit to the United States.

1954 Starts a new period of collaboration with Josep Llorens Artigas in Gallifa (near Barcelona). Over the next two years he produces more than 200 ceramic pieces.

1955 Produces a series of paintings on cardboard. He then stops painting until 1959 but continues working on ceramics and graphic arts.

1956 Sells the flat in Passatge del Crèdit and moves permanently to Palma, where he builds a house and commissions Josep Lluís Sert to design a studio for him.

1958 Inauguration of the two murals for UNESCO in Paris. The project receives the Guggenheim International Award. 1960 Works with Josep Llorens Artigas on the ceramic mural for Harkness Commons, Harvard University, to replace the mural painting.

1961 Publication of Jacques Dupin's book on Miró.

1962 Retrospective exhibition at the Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris.

1964 Opening of the Fondation Maeght, designed by Josep Lluís Sert, and of the "Labyrinth", with sculptures by Miró and Artigas, at Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

1966 Produces his first monumental sculptures in bronze, Sun bird and Moon bird . Retrospective exhibition at the National Museum of Art, Tokyo. Visits Japan for the first time, where he meets the poet Shuzo Takiguchi, author of the first monograph on Miró.

1967 Installation of a ceramic mural, produced in collaboration with Josep Llorens Artigas, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Awarded the Carnegie International Grand Prize for painting.

1968 Last visit to the United States. Awarded an honorary doctorate by Harvard University. Retrospective exhibitions at the Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and at the Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu, Barcelona, sponsored by the City Council.

1969 "Miró otro" exhibition at the College of Architects, Barcelona. Mirópaints the glass front of the building (an ephemeral action that is erased when the exhibition is over).

1970 Ceramic mural and mural painting for the Laughter Pavilion sponsored by Japanese gas companies at the Osaka World Fair. In conjunction with Artigas, he produces a monumental ceramic mural for Barcelona Airport.

1972 1972 The Fundació Joan Miró, Centre d'Estudis d'Art Contemporani is legally constituted in Barcelona. Josep Lluís Sert is commissioned to design the building.

1975 The Fundació Joan Miró, Centre d'Estudis d'Art Contemporani, is opened to the public. A large selection of paintings, sculptures, textiles and prints are exhibited.

1976 Installation of the ceramic paving in the Pla de l'Ós in the Rambla, Barcelona. Official opening of the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona, with an exhibition of drawings from the collection donated by the artist.

1977 Produces a large tapestry in conjunction with Josep Royo for the National Gallery, Washington D.C., and starts work on the tapestry for the Foundation. Paints the sets and figures for Mori el Merma with the help of the actors in the Teatre de la Claca group.

1978 Retrospective exhibition at the Museo Español de Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid, organised in conjunction with the Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona. Premiere of Mori el Merma at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, performed by the Teatre de la Claca company, with giant puppets, masks and sets painted by Miró. Unveiling of the monumental sculpture Couple playing with almond blossom in La Défense, Paris.

1979 Unveiling of the stained-glass windows at the Fondation Maeght, produced in collaboration with Charles Marcq, with whom Miró also made the stained-glass windows for the Chapelle Royale de Saint-Frambourg-de-Senlis, the venue for artistic and musical events held by the Cziffra Foundation. Awarded an honorary doctorate by Barcelona University. 1980 King Juan Carlos awards him the Gold Medal for Fine Arts.

1981 Installation of the monumental sculpture known as Miss Chicago in Brunswick Plaza, Chicago.

1982 Installation of the monumental sculpture Woman and bird in the Parc de Joan Miró, Barcelona.

1983 Various events and exhibitions to celebrate Miró's ninetieth birthday. "Joan Miró: A Ninetieth-Birthday Tribute" at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and "Joan Miró: anys 20. Mutació de la realitat" at the Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona. Unveiling of a monumental sculpture in the courtyard of Barcelona City Hall. Death of Joan Miró in Palma, Majorca, on 25 December. He is buried on 29 December in the Montjuïc cemetery, Barcelona.