bio

Dan Graziano is an award winning, nationally exhibited artist whose paintings capture the hidden beauty found in the unexpected places and fleeting moments of everyday life.  His work has been featured in numerous publications and hangs in the collections of private and corporate collectors throughout the world.

His artistic vision began taking shape in the 60's, during America's explosive political, cultural and artistic awakening.  His initial training focused on advertising and illustration, but a career opportunity in architecture and urban planning altered his original direction. 

When he returned to painting, he was drawn to the rich complexity of the urban landscape – inspired by the work of Edward Hopper and other urbanist painters. As an accomplished blues guitarist (his other great passion), he found the city streets, time worn buildings and multiple layers of decay and repair a visual parallel to the spirit and culture of the music. In addition to cityscapes, his subjects can diversely range from a simple still life to rugged coastlines, small rural towns and forgotten roadside relics. Frequently, a small fragment of a larger composition will catch his eye because of its unique geometry or how it is magically transformed by the way light hits it.

“In my paintings, I try to capture the hidden beauty found in the unexpected places and fleeting moments of everyday life.  I continue to be intrigued by the urban landscapes of inner cities - their active streets, time worn buildings and multiple layers of decay, renewal and adaptation - that proudly display the effects of age and use, which I see as testaments to strength, character and authenticity in contrast with modern society’s demand for newness, imitation, disposability and easy duplication.  My work is influenced by the American realists such as Sargent, Hopper and the three generations of Wyeths along with California painters Thiebaud and Diebenkorn.”

Exhibitions and Awards:

Restaurant Life (solo show 2018), Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME
Solo Exhibition (2017), Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME
2017 American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA

Solo Show - "Dining" (2016), Roux and Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME

25th Annual Holiday Miniatures Show  (Group Exhibition 2015), Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

Solo Show (2015), Roux and Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME

Two Sides of the Bay (2015 two-person show), Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME

2015 Salmagundi Club Non-Member Exhibition,  New York, NY

2014 Hilton Head Art Auction, Hilton Head, SC

2014 CCCA/Olana Plein Air Festival, Hudson, NY

2014 Plein Air Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, PA

2014 Piedmont Plein Air Festival, High Point, NC

2014 Cape Elizabeth Plein Air Auction, Cape Elizabeth, ME

2014 Easels in Frederick (Award Winner), Frederick, MD

Edward Hopper House Art Center (2014 solo show), Nyack, NY

2013 CCCA/Olana Plein Air Festival, Hudson, NY

2013 Cape Elizabeth Plein Air Auction, Cape Elizabeth, ME

Plein Air Richmond 2013 (Honorable Mention Award) Richmond, VA

Oil Painters of America 2013 Juried Salon Show, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI

American Art Invitational 2012, Saks Gallery, Denver, CO

2012 Charleston Art Auction, Charleston, SC

Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival 2012, Wayne, PA

Less Is More 2012, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Costa Mesa, CA

Contemporary Masters: Artistic Eden III 2012, Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena, CA

Jonathan Art Foundation Exhibition 2012, Los Angeles, CA

2011 Charleston Art Auction, Charleston, SC

13th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, Laguna Art Museum/Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA

2011 Just Plein Fun plein air invitational, Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA

2011 Summer Salon group show, Tirage Fine Art, Pasadena, CA

Less Is More 2011 (First Place Award), Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Costa Mesa, CA

6" Square Group Show 2011 (Second Place Award), Randy Higbee Gallery, CA

6 Inch Square Group Show 2010, Randy Higbee Gallery, CA

Less Is More 2010, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Costa Mesa, CA

Small is Beautiful 2010, Southern California Plein Air Painters Association, Newport Beach, CA

Modern Landscapes 2009 (First Place Award), Southern California Artists Association, Laguna Beach, CA

Less Is More Miniature Show 2009 (Honorable Mention Award), Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Costa Mesa, CA

Rialto Visions 2008: Icons and Landmarks of South Pasadena, SoPas Gallery, Pasadena, CA

Contemporary Realism 2004, Fraser Gallery, Bethesda, MD

Featured Artist Series 2003, Kevin Butler Gallery, Edgartown, MA

New Directions 2002, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY

Georgetown International Art Competition 2002 (Third Place Award), Fraser Gallery, Washington, DC

71st Annual Hudson Valley Art Association Juried Show 2001, Newington-Cropsey Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Publications/Press:

"Art Review: Paintings and Photos Illuminate Culture of Portland Restaurants" March 2016 Portland Press Herald
"Kitchen Settings Inspire Maine Painter's Latest Series"  February 2016 Portland Press Herald

"Graziano Wins at Easels in Frederick" July 2014 Cafe des Artistes/Bangor Daily News

2013 Book of Lists, Philadelphia Business Journal

"Artists to Watch"  June 2012 Southwest Art Magazine

Affiliations:

Oil Painters of America
California Art Club
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association

American Impressionist Society