Salvador Dali rarities go on display in Atlanta

An exhibition of late works by artist Salvador Dali opens this weekend in Atlanta, including several pieces not seen in the US for half a century.

The collection of 40 paintings - plus films, sculptures and photographs - focuses on the period from 1940 to 1983.

Works have been brought in from countries around the world - including Canada, Scotland and Japan.

The exhibition runs at Atlanta's High Museum of Art until 9 January.

"It's become a really interesting area for investigation because you have Dali's career which spans almost all of the 20th century, but historically people have really only looked at the 1930s," exhibition curator Elliott King told the Associated Press. "It was almost like he died in 1940."

The exhibition includes photos by American photographer Philippe Halsman showing the artist displaying what King describes as Dali's "wacky showman" side.