Dan Perino, a performance artist born in 1963 grew up on Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village. He enrolled in NYU, NYU Stern University MBA (1985) Stevens Institute of Technology PhD ( Doctor of Philosophy) 1990. Greenwich Village, often called "The Village,”. Where artists are born and raised, is a historic neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City, known for its bohemian charm, artistic legacy, and vibrant cultural scene. In the 20th century, it became a hub for the 1960s counterculture movements, attracting writers, musicians, and activists who shaped the Beat Generation, folk music revival. In the 90s, Perino became a real estate broker. 

As a kid, he thought he would become a Jazz guitarist, but life had another plan. Like a mother-like son, from a young age, Perino started painting. From photo-realistic artwork, contemporary, copying artists, to multi-media artwork, he wants to do it all. This early foundation set the stage for his lifelong commitment to artistic exploration. He exhibited a natural talent for painting, starting at just four years old. His mother, recognizing his passion, invested in higher-quality art supplies, which Dan took seriously as he began to study and replicate the works of iconic artists like Picasso. This early foundation set the stage for his lifelong commitment to artistic exploration.

In 2024, he started the “Looking for A Girlfriend” project. Dan wanted to entertain the public and understand dating psychology. He posted over 5 million flyers in his lifetime and he received over 5 million replies to his flyers. The project involved posting hundreds of thousands of flyers across the city with a photo of himself and the bold words, “Looking For A Girlfriend.” While social media was still in its infancy, Dan engaged with hundreds of women each year, receiving thousands of monthly responses. His open, interactive approach to art and relationships garnered significant media attention, transforming the project into an international phenomenon. 

The Looking For A Girlfriend project lasted for several years, resulting in interviews, media appearances, and an expanding public presence. Dan leveraged the experience to refine his acting skills and hone his ability to navigate the media landscape, often inventing playful stories and engaging interviewers for both amusement and to provoke social reactions. As he explains, "You need to challenge yourself to find answers and to do this, you need to evoke reactions." For years, he honed his craft and supported himself as a designer, professional painter, and skilled painter, and plasterer. During this time, he focused on realism in his art, continually evolving as a painter

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Around a decade ago, Dan expanded his creative horizons into the realm of abstraction, embracing the drip-painting style pioneered by artists like Jackson Pollock. His experimentation with this expressive technique marked a new chapter in his artistic journey, reflecting his desire to push boundaries and explore new forms of self-expression. By the project's early years, Dan estimated receiving over 500,000 responses. With the rise of social media, his outreach expanded globally, and he now estimates that the number of responses, emails, and interview views exceeds 3 million worldwide.

Reflecting on his journey, Dan has referred to his life before performance art as "mediocre"—a term he has grown accustomed to. He decided to make a change and his life morphed into one rich with personal growth- it encapsulated his ever-evolving approach to both life Dan Perino's work continues to challenge conventions, blur the lines between art and life, and captivate audiences around the world. He refers to his flyers as removable graffiti, hoping to make his mark all over NYC.