Internationally renowned artist Dan Santoni creates as a photographer, visual effects animator, and art director. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, his photography gained him recognition there in the early nineties. His work won numerous awards in the Detroit Metro Times, including first place in the Color category. He also received editorial recognition in the Detroit News, the Detroit Metro Times, and various other publications. Dan became greatly involved in the underground music scene in the mid eighties, which greatly influenced his work. In the early nineties, Dan also became involved in organizing multiple club events. These events included DJs, still and movie projections, multimedia sculptures, and artwork and took place in venues such as the Majestic Theatre, The State Theatre, and 2036.
In 1994, Dan relocated to Los Angeles to continue his photography. Delving into the entertainment field, he has photographed celebrities such as actress and comedian Margaret Cho, Sybil Danning of Halloween 2007, Grindhouse, Howling II fame, producer Scott Humphrey (Rob Zombie, Metallica, Motley Crue, The Cult, and many more), KMFDM vocalist Lucia, and the bands The Genitortures, Collide, and Carbon 12.
He has also worked with models such
as Kumi Monster, Storm, Shannon (a.k.a. Chrome
Girl), Persephone, Audra (Gwar's Kitty), Morrigan Hel, Pia, Perish, Yaya,
Melodie Gore, and Darenzia.
Dan's works have been featured in Guitar
Magazine, Imago Magazine,
Metal Edge, Mix Magazine, Outburn Magazine, Industrial Nation (cover),
Marquis Magazine (Germany), Erotique Digitale (U.K.), and Carpe
Noctem. His photography and art have been shown in galleries across the
United States such as 2036, Urban Park,
Dark's Art Parlour, Stormy Leather, Blue Space Gallery, and Echo
Gallery.
Dan’s work in on-set art direction and effects animation can be seen in
popular film, television, and music videos. His credits include work on The Golden Compass, The Day After Tomorrow,
Minority Report, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Birds of
Prey, as well as music videos for Sisqo, DJ Rap, and Ziggy Marley.
Dan's painting with light, also known as gels style, has become his own unique art that he has been developing since the early nineties. His use of lights and darks are all done in “front” of the camera, utilizing both film and digital cameras, with the digital images being the only ones slightly altered, due to their inherent flaw of misrepresenting rich, black colors. Dan’s major goal with his art is to evoke an element of unsettling beauty in the viewer.
Dan's influences are numbered in photographers such as Peter Greenaway, Julie Margaret Cameron, Pierre et Giles, David La Chapelle, Terry Gilliam, David Fincher, and Jean Pierre Jeunet, as well as in movies such as 28 Days Later, Fight Club, Ed Wood, Hellraiser, Session 9, Battle Royale, and various cult movies.
Dan’s upcoming published work in magazines includes Blood and Dishonour by The Salvation Group (UK), Alternative Magazine (UK), Clinic Magazine (Amsterdam), and Imago Magazine (Toronto).