Pino Daeni (Italian painter, 1939-2010)

Pino was born in Bari where Pino began his studies at the city’s Art Institute. In 1960 entered Milan’s Academy of Brera where Pino perfected his talent and skill for painting figures.

In the two years Pino studied at the Academy, Pino came under the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites and Macchiaioli.Pino also experimented with Expressionism of the late sixties during his stay in Milan.

From 1960-1979 Pino's work appeared in several major exhibitions throughout Italy and Europe.

At the same time, Pino was commissioned by Italy’s two largest publishers. Mondadori and Rizzoli, for book illustrations. However, Pino felt restricted in Milan.

Pino wanted more artistic freedom which he believed existed in the United States.

In 1979, Pino emigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of Borghi Gallery where Pino held several shows in New York and Massachusetts.

In 1980, after knocking on many doors, Zebra Books Publishers commissioned Pino to do his first book cover.

Pino's interpretation was new, fresh and sensual, an illustration so successful that he gained entry into creative relationships with many leading publishers of Romance novels.

Pino's popularity grew within the literary community and he became the artist-in-demand for Zebra, Bantam, Simon, and Schuster, Harlequin, Penquin USA and Dell. To date, Pino has illustrated 3,000 books; Pino's style has dominated and influenced the market.

In 1992 Pino contacted one of the major galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona, the May Gallery, and sent five fine art paintings which were well received. Since then Pino's paintings have appeared in Morris and Whiteside Gallery in Hilton Head and Stuart Johnson’s Settlers West Gallery in Tucson.

Pino has been invited to make several appearances on major TV networks and has been interviewed in national and international journals.

In addition, Pino's ability to capture the movements and expressions of his subjects has brought him private commissions to do portraits.