Dan Graziano is an award winning, nationally exhibited artist whose paintings capture the hidden beauty found in the ordinary and unexpected 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. He also keeps an active schedule teaching workshops at galleries and art organizations throughout the nation. 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. 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 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 realists such as Caravaggio, Sargent, Hopper and the three generations of Wyeths along with California painters Wayne Thiebaud and Richard Diebenkorn.” Exhibitions and Awards: Solo Show - "Observations" (2025) Lancaster County Art Association, Strasburg, PAGroup Show - "Embodied Emotions: Celebrating the Human Form" (2024) Lancaster Art Vault Gallery, Lancaster, PASolo Show - "The Figure at Work & Play" (2024) Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SCGroup Show - "Side by Side" (2023) Peninsula Gallery, Lewes, DESolo Show - "Bonjour Paris" (2022) Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, Palm Desert, CASolo Show - "The Soul of the City" (2022), Abend Gallery, Denver, CO"2021 Less Is More Juried Small Works Show" (Award Winner), Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc., Laguna Beach, CA2021 Winter Membership Show (First Place Award), Lancaster County Art Association, Strasburg, PA2020 Best of Plein Air, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA"LPAPA Squared" (2020) award winner, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA“Apertifs & Interiors” (2020), Hagan Fine Art, Charleston, SCPlein Air Invitational 2019, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CASolo Show - “Cafes, Kitchens & Bars” (2019), Roux and Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, MESolo Show - "Kitchen, Cafe & Restaurant" (2018), Roux and Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME2017 American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CANational Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society 2016 International On-Line Exhibition“6 Inch Square” (2016), Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA“Root To Bloom” group show (2016), Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VASolo Show - "Dining" (2016), Roux and Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, ME"25th Annual Holiday Miniatures Show" Group Exhibition (2015), Abend Gallery, Denver, COSolo 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, MDEdward Hopper House Art Center (2014 solo show), Nyack, NY"2013 CCCA/Olana Plein Air Festival," Hudson, NY"2013 Cape Elizabeth Plein Air Festival," Cape Elizabeth, ME"Plein Air Richmond 2013" (Award Winner), 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 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, NYPublications/Press: "Collector's Focus: Cityscapes" February 2024 American Art Collector"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 News2013 Book of Lists, Philadelphia Business Journal"Artists to Watch" June 2012 Southwest Art Magazine Affiliations: Oil Painters of AmericaLaguna Plein Air Painters Association-Signature MemberAmerican Impressionist SocietyLancaster County Art AssociationWayne Art Center Teaching/Workshops: Lehigh Art AllianceConroe Art LeagueLancaster County Art AssociationBrush Strokes Fine Art Club, Hot Springs Village, ARSociety of Bluffton Artists, Bluffton SCKiawah Art Guild, Kiawah Island, SC Women’s Art Club of Cincinnati, Mariemont, OH River Tree Arts Center, Kennebunk, MEWinterthur Museum, Winterthur, DEVisual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FLThe Centerpiece Gallery, Raleigh, NCCreative Arts Center, Chatham, MACrooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey, MIWallkill River School, Montgomery, NYFlorence Thomas Art School, West Jefferson, NCWest Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CTThe Art Loft, Rockland, MELaguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CADelaware Valley Art Association, Wayne, PAChester Springs Studio, Yellow Springs, PAMain Street Art Center, Lake Zurich, ILBirmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MIThe Spring Island Art Guild, Spring Island, SCThe Seabrook Island Art Guild, Seabrook Island, SC