Tristan Tzara was a Romanian and French poet who was a founder of the Dada art movement in reaction to World War 1. He collaborated with other artists in Zurich to establish Cabaret Voltaire in 1916 as a center for Dada performances, poetry readings, and art exhibitions. Dada soon spread to other cities and countries, incorporating readymades, found objects, nonsense poetry, and anti-art concepts. By the 1920s Dada evolved into Surrealism under the leadership of Andre Breton, though Tzara remained active in the avant-garde. He died in 1963 after making major contributions to 20th century art through his pioneering of Dada.