Dan Graziano

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 Southwest Art Magazine, and is in the collections of private and corporate collectors.

His artistic vision began taking shape in the 60's, during America's explosive political, cultural and artistic awakening.  His first formal 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 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 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.”

*Click an image to enlarge and view slideshow. Rollover artwork, or on mobile device; click white dot in lower right corner, to view artwork details.