Dan Shupe was born in Colorado, in
the late 1930's. He grew up in Venice, California where he started sculpting at
an early age. He took many trips to Mexico and was profoundly influenced by the
local folk artists.
Dan moved to the East Coast in the
late 1950's, where he studied with Franz Klein at the Philadelphia Museum of
Art. By the 1960's, Dan began having successful shows in Philadelphia, New York
and Los Angeles.
In the last decade Dan has evolved
into the leading force in the Neo-Expressionist style that is reminiscent of the
1920's and 1930's. His luscious palette is achieved through layer upon layer of
pigment, then lacquered and waxed. Pure colors in the fauve tradition. Vibrant
color used sparingly, suggesting passion, humor and an almost innocent
celebration of life and freedom on the edge.
Selected private collectors of his
works include Michelle Pfeiffer, Whoopi Goldberg, Brooke Shields, Brooke Adams,
Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ingrid Bergman, Andy Williams, Cher, Chita Rivera and Ali
McGraw.