Dani Papa is a local artist, educator, and mentor who has made considerable waves in our community. After serving as a high school art teacher for nearly a decade, Dani has accumulated significant accolades in his field. Having set his sights on graduate school at Savannah College of Art & Design four years ago, Dani is at the tail end of his degree program and ready to share his final thesis exhibit with Naples. Measuring at 30-feet long, Papa’s final work will be one giant painting depicting the 12 Greek Gods on their thrones, as if viewers were walking into Mount Olympus. Each god will represent an aspect of Dani’s personality, collectively signifying his identity.
Dani owes his emerging artist career to his thriving exhibition record and steadfast commitment toward education and community. Having exhibited during Art Basel Miami Beach for two consecutive years, Dani Papa’s urban tribal style and aesthetic began to catch attention. Last year, Dani had the opportunity to exhibit five of his live painting performance artworks in SOHO, New York where his spontaneous use of color and bold mark-making dazzled viewers. Recently, Dani embarked on his first international exhibition in Athens, Greece where his “Three Graces” graced a contemporary Grecian gallery. While aboard, he made visits to ancient sites, conducted primary research for his thesis studies, and connected with his Greek family, learning about his lineage.
Follow Dani Papa on Instagram @papanikolaou.dani or peruse his website www.danipapa.com and subscribe to the tribe. Be sure to stay tuned for Papa’s final thesis exhibition coming this Fall season.