ABOUT THE ARTIST

Background Dennis Santana is born in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 14, 1962. He was raised in Hoboken, New Jersey and afterwards left to the island of Puerto Rico. At a very early age he showed a lot of promise in the visual and musical arts. At about 6 years of age his training in the arts begin via the instructions of his older brother Henry, who is also a good artist in his own right. A chance viewing of a documentary when he was about 8 would introduce Dennis to the art of great mexican muralists like: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros.It's also during this time his entire life will be turned insideout and upsidedown; for it is when he discovers: Pablo Picasso. From this moment on began a passion for all forms of painterly expressions that has continued until today.

Education

His formal training begins during the first half of the 1980's in New Jersey and New York. After some years he relocates to Puerto Rico, the country of his parents. It is there that he studies Communications and Graphic Arts at the University of Puerto Rico during the late 1980's and early 1990's. Dennis admits that he is still learning, listening to and receiving advice from artist friends whom he respects very much, like: Ivan Chinea, Pablo Marcano, Ruben Santos, and the late Luis Felipe Rivera, among others. About instruction he will also admit that when all else fails, "There's no better teacher than a GOOD ARTBOOK."

Interests

His interests include anything that is art related, computers, specifically Apple products, digital music creation ( after painting, its his main hobby, he makes some mean beats ), digital photography, vedic literature, vegetarianism, autism awareness, simple living and high thinking.

Exhibitions His works are found in a myriad of public and private collections throughout Puerto Rico, the caribbean, central and south america, the south eastern and north eastern parts of the U.S.A. He has exhibited in various venews, including: The Pelican Art Gallery in Palmas del Mar, Humacao, PR; Gurabo City Hall in PR; The Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean in San Juan; The Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan, PR; The Art Museum of Ponce, PR; Frame Art Express Gallery of Plaza Las Americas Mall of San Juan, PR; and Lienzos Gallery of the Fine Arts Center in Caguas, PR, among other locations in one-man and collective shows.In Florida his artwork was shown at Hector Framing & Gallery in Gainesville.