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. Incorporating dramatic light, shadow, color and perspective, his compositions feature a diversity of subjects – from a simple still life to rugged coastlines, active urban life, lively cafes and bars, small rural towns and forgotten roadside relics. His work has been featured in numerous publications and is in the collections of private and corporate collectors throughout the world.
His artistic vision began taking shape in Los Angeles of the 1960’s, during America’s explosive political, cultural and artistic awakening. His first formal art 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 featured in the work of Edward Hopper and other urbanist painters. As an accomplished blues guitarist (his other great passion), he experienced the late-night city streets and time worn buildings as a visual parallel to the spirit and cultural struggles characterized by the music. In recent years, he has developed a popular painting series focusing on café culture; bartenders, waiters, chefs and all its lively inhabitants. He has received formal training in the traditional techniques and principles of classical realism painting from The Florence Academy of Art.
“In my paintings, I try to capture the hidden beauty found in the unexpected places and fleeting moments of everyday life. I believe art is all around us if you take the time to look for it. 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 art of Caravaggio, Sargent, Hopper and the three generations of Wyeths along with California painters Wayne Thiebaud and Richard Diebenkorn.”
– Dan Graziano
Exhibitions and Awards:
• Solo Show – “Observations” (2025) Lancaster County Art Association, Lancaster, PA
• Group Show – “Embodied Emotions: Celebrating the Human Form (2024) Lancaster Art Vault, Lancaster, PA
• Solo Show – “The Figure at Work & Play” (2024) Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SC
• Group Show – “Side by Side” (2023) Peninsula Gallery, Lewes, DE
• Solo Show – “Bonjour Paris” (2022) Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
• 2021 Winter Membership Show (First Place Award), Lancaster County Art Association, Strasburg, PA
• Solo Show – “The Soul of the City” (2022), Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
• Group Show – “Less Is More Small Works Show” (2020 Award Winner), Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc., Laguna Beach, CA
• Plein Air Invitational 2019, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA
• Group Show – “Best of Plein Air” (2020), Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA
• Solo Show – “Restaurant Life (2018), Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME
• Solo Show – (2017), Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME
• Group Show – American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase (2017), Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
• Group Show – “6 Inch Square” (2016), Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
• Group Show – “Root To Bloom” group show (2016), Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
• Solo Show – (2016), Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME
• Group Show – 25th Annual Holiday Miniatures Show (2015), Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
• 2015 Bath County Plein Air Festival, Warm Springs, VA
• Solo Show – (2015), Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME
• Two-Person Show – “Two Sides of the Bay” (2015), Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME
• Group Show – Salmagundi Club Non-Member Exhibition (2015), 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
• Easels in Frederick 2014 Plein Air Festival, (award winner), Frederick, MD
• Solo Show – The Edward Hopper House Art Center (2014), Nyack, NY
• Group Show – American Impressionist Society 14th Annual Juried Exhibition, M Gallery, Charleston, SC
• CCCA/Olana Plein Air Auction 2013, Hudson, NY
• 2013 Hilton Head Art Auction, Hilton Head, SC
• Cape Elizabeth Land Trust Auction 2013, Cape Elizabeth, ME
• Plein Air Richmond 2013 (award winner), Richmond, VA
• Group Show – Oil Painters of America Juried Salon Show (2013), Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• Group Show – American Art Invitational (2012), Saks Gallery, Denver, CO
• 2012 Charleston Art Auction, Charleston, SC
• Wayne Plein Air Festival 2012, Wayne, PA
• Group Show – “Contemporary Masters: Artistic Eden III” (2012), Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena, CA
• Jonathan Art Foundation Auction 2012, Los Angeles, CA
• 2011 Charleston Art Auction, Charleston, SC
• 13th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
• 2011 Just Plein Fun Plein Air Invitational, Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
• Group Show – “Summer Salon” (2011), Tirage Fine Art, Pasadena, CA
• Group Show – “Less is More” (2011), Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc., CA
• Group Show – “6 Inch Square” (2011), Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
• Group Show – “Less is More” (2010), Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc., CA
• Group Show – “Small is Beautiful” (2010), So. Cal. Plein Air Painters Assoc., Newport Beach, CA
• Group Show – “Modern Landscapes” (2009), So. Cal. Artists Assoc., Laguna Beach, CA
• Group Show – “Less Is More” (2009), Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc., CA
• Group Show – “Rialto Visions: Icons and Landmarks of South Pasadena” (2008), SoPas Gallery, South Pasadena, CA
• Group Show – “Contemporary Realism” (2004), Fraser Gallery, Bethesda, MD
• Group Show – “New Directions” (2002), Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
• Group Show – “Georgetown International Art” (2002), Fraser Gallery, Washington, DC
• Group Show – “71st Annual Hudson Valley Art Association Juried Show” (2002), Newington-Cropsey Gallery, NY
Publications/Press:
• “Collector’s Focus: Cityscapes” February 2024 American Art Collector Magazine
• “Taking Stock Of Our Cities & Towns” February 2019 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine
• “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
• “Dan Graziano Exhibiting at Edward Hopper House Art Center” June 2014 Cafe des Artistes/Bangor Daily News
• 2013 Book of Lists, Philadelphia Business Journal
• “Artists To Watch” June 2012 Southwest Art Magazine
Gallery Representation:
• Red Piano Gallery, Bluffton, SC
• True North Gallery, Kennebunkport, ME
• Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, Carmel and Palm Desert, CA
• Palm Avenue Fine Art, Sarasota, FL
• Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SC
Arts Organization Affiliations:
• Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (Signature Member)
• Oil Painters of America
• American Impressionist Society
• Lancaster County Art Association
Teaching/Workshops:
• Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
• Society of Bluffton Artists, Bluffton SC
• Kiawah Art Guild, Kiawah Island, SC
• Women’s Art Club of Cincinnati, Mariemont, OH
• Bethlehem Palette Club, Bethlehem, PA
• River Tree Arts Center, Kennebunk, ME
• Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE
• Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FL
• The Centerpiece Gallery, Raleigh, NC
• Creative Arts Center, Chatham, MA
• Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey, MI
• Wallkill River School, Montgomery, NY
• Florence Thomas Art School, West Jefferson, NC
• West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT
• The Art Loft, Rockland, ME
• Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA
• Delaware Valley Art Association, Wayne, PA
• Chester Springs Studio, Yellow Springs, PA
• Main Street Art Center, Lake Zurich, IL
• Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
• The Spring Island Art Guild, Spring Island, SC
• The Seabrook Island Art Guild, Seabrook Island, SC
• Conroe Art League, Conroe, TX
