Virtual Art Tour

Dino Paravano, American, born 1935

Lion Cubs at Sunset

Dino Paravano was born in Italy and lived in South Africa for 44 years, after immigrating there with his family in 1947. He started painting at an early age, initially encouraged by his father and subsequently attended the Johannesburg College of Art to further his studies. Ultimately he is mainly self-taught, having perfected his unique technique of using light, which is evident in all his paintings and for which he is most famous.

Paravano travels extensively in pursuit of subject matter. As a result, the years spent in South Africa afforded him the privilege of viewing animals and their natural habitat in diverse settings of national and private game reserves. The “heart-beat” of Africa truly made an impact on his palette and, to the discerning viewer, the earthy tones, which are present in all his African studies, reflect his ability in capturing the essence of the bushveldt.

Being totally dedicated to his art, Paravano gained recognition as one of the prominent South African artists, having many very successful one-man exhibitions in that country. They started with his first one-man show in 1968 and subsequent shows were sell-outs, setting a precedent, with people lining up outside the galleries the night before the opening. Many major South African corporate companies purchased his works, as well as private collectors worldwide.

In the early 1970s, he decided to venture farther a field and came to the United States to explore the American scene. His work was so well received, he began to travel to the U.S. on a regular basis, incorporating the research of North American wildlife, since the vibrant enthusiasm and competitiveness was an inspiration to his creative nature. He subsequently decided to move to the U.S., where he would achieve wider international recognition. Paravano and his wife, Kiki, have been living in Tucson since 1992 and have recently become American Citizens.

He has gone from strength to strength in the American art world and has many credits to his name. From 1968 until the present time Paravano has held 14 one-man shows in major South African cities, New York and London, plus 200 international exhibitions, more than 90 of which were museum shows. Since 1979, his work has been selected every year for the Society of Animal Artists annual exhibition and subsequent year tour. This year is his 13th consecutive year in “Birds in Art” and fourth year in “Wildlife: The Artist’s View,” held by the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin. At the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum, in 1993, he was presented with the prestigious title of “master wildlife artist” and was the 17th artist to be so honored by this most coveted prize in the art fraternity, as it is awarded to the most famous wildlife artists in the world. His works are featured in museum, corporate and private collections in South Africa, the UK, U.S., Australia and the Orient, including the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Blauveld Art Museum, Kruger National Park, Mala Mala, SA Reserve Bank, Total Oil SA, SA Broadcasting Corporation, most South African commercial banks, as well as the Tom and Mary James/Raymond James Art Collection.