Art biography
Dani's art is inspired by nearly two decades of work as a journalist. She began painting in 2004 after being embedded with the Marines in Iraq. Dani was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2006, but left newspapers two years later to focus on telling stories through her art.
Dani works primarily by layering different media – acrylic paint, spray paint, ink and collage – to create raw, abstracted images that tell tales of loneliness, joy, pain and triumph – in short, of being human. She is inspired by the ways that people cope in crowded cities, where strangers jostle hostility, lust and comfort, often within the same block or subway car.
Her art has been included in national and international juried shows and won many awards. She has garnered media attention on local television as well as in print publications including San Diego Magazine, Pacific San Diego Magazine, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Wonderwall Magazine, and the book International Contemporary Artists No. II. She is essentially self-taught but grateful to artist mentors who helped her to trust her own voice.
Dani lives in San Diego, Calif. Her work can be seen at Pimento Fine Art in Little Italy, at the monthly Ray at Night Art Walk in North Park, and often at SDAI: Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park.
Art résumé
Solo shows
- Pimento Fine Art, “Defying Gravity” (San Diego) June 2011
- Pimento Fine Art, “Graffiti Pink Paris” (San Diego) November-December 2010
- Pimento Fine Art, “Stories without Words” (San Diego) August-October 2010
- The Perfect Frame, “New York Rhythm” (Carlsbad, Calif.) March-April 2008
Selected juried group shows
- SDAI: Museum of the Living Artist International Show (San Diego) 2011
- Coos Art Museum, “Expressions West” (Coos Bay, Ore.) 2011
- San Diego Watercolor Society International Show, 2010, 2008
- California Watercolor Association National Exhibition (San Francisco) 2009
- Society of Watercolor Artists Juried Art Exhibition (Fort Worth, Texas) 2009
- Long Beach Arts, Works on Paper Exhibition (honorable mention) (Long Beach, Calif.) 2008
- Palm Springs Art Museum Artist Council National Juried Exhibition (Palm Springs, Calif.) 2007
Selected awards
- Best of Show, Bonita Museum and Cultural Center's annual juried fine art exhibit (Bonita, Calif.) 2009
- 1st (and juror’s commendation), "'Top 100' including One-Foot Show" (San Diego) 2010
- 1st (and 2nd), mixed media, Fallbrook Art Association Open Show (Fallbrook, Calif.) 2010
- 1st place, San Diego Watercolor Society cash awards show, 2008
- 1st place, mixed media, Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League, annual open show (Carlsbad, Calif.) 2008
- 1st place, The Studio of Art and Design, watermedia open show (Solana Beach, Calif.) 2007
- Featured Artist, Mission Federal ArtWalk, San Diego, 2010
- People's Choice Award, San Diego County Fair Fine Art Exhibition, 2009
Selected group shows
- Thousand Oaks Community Center, “Five Artists” (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) August 2010
- Bard Hall Gallery, “Dani Dodge, Kathy Ostman-Magnusen & Marilyn Szabo” (San Diego) June 2010
- Climate/Gallery (Long Island City, New York) “Putting it All Together” February 2010, “Paint!” November 2009
- Manzanar Interpretive Center, “Henry Fukuhara Workshop Group traveling show” (Lone Pine, Calif.) 2010, 2009
Representation in San Diego County
Pimento Fine Art, 350 W. Ash St, Suite 103, San Diego 92101, 619-955-5285