/ about 


Painting, for me, is an existential odyssey—a voyage into the essence of self and existence that unfolds on the canvas through an intricate dance of marks, brushstrokes, and color. Each piece becomes a vibrant, abstracted liminal space where I explore the interstices of memory, place, the human body, and the ceaseless rhythm of change. The canvas, in its mutable form, mirrors the fluidity of existence, embodying the profound transformation that accompanies both internal and external growth. In the act of painting, I confront the transient nature of our being and the continuous flux that defines our experience. Each stroke and color choice is a dialogue with the ineffable, a testament to the constant interplay between creation and dissolution. My paintings are not merely artifacts of artistic endeavor; they are philosophical reflections of our ever-shifting reality. They capture the essence of our ongoing journey through the labyrinth of existence and are a poignant reminder of the beauty and fragility inherent in the human experience.

Dani Wagner is a creative professional, painter, beauty expert, and digital content creator based in Minneapolis, MN. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies with a concentration in Painting from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design(2013), as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Coker University(2010). Since 2010 she has exhibited her original paintings nationwide and is represented in private collections globally. Dani's work has been included in publications such as The Alphabet Club Anthology Book, curated by Jamie Fletcher(2016) and Minneapolis' Queer Mag, Issue 2. Having a background as an art educator, she also has a strong passion for teaching. When she isn't busy working in non-profit healthcare, Dani likes to spend her time painting as well as advocating for the transgender community. 
Dani Wagner
Painter, Content Creator, Visual Artist
Instagram: mfcanvastime

Education
MFA 2013 Painting, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
BA 2010 Graphic Design, Coker University (cum laude)
AA 2006 Northeastern Technical College

Professional Experience
2017 Guest Instructor, Figure Drawing Night At The Saloon, Saloon MN, Minneapolis, MN
October 2015, Guest Lecturer, Gender, Art, and Society (course), Minneapolis College of Art and Design
March 2014, Guest Lecturer, Gender and Art Studies (course), Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Fall 2012, Teaching Assistant, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Foundation Drawing
2011 - 2013, Graduate Technical Assistant, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, DesignWorks
2009 - 2010 Student Mentor, Coker University Art Department
Spring 2009 - Fall 2009 Design Intern, Coker University Office of Marketing & Communications
2008 - 2009 Student Mentor, Coker University Art Department

Awards/Honors
2012-2013 MFA Trustees Scholarship, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
2012-2013 MFA Opportunity Grant, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
2011-2012 MFA Trustees Scholarship, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
2011-2012 MFA Opportunity Grant, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
2010 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, Coker University Art Department
2007 - 2010 Art Scholarship, Coker University
2009 Dean’s List, Spring and Fall Semesters, Coker Univeristy
2008 Dean’s List, Fall Semester, Coker University
2005-2006 Award for service as VP of the SGA, NETC, Cheraw, SC

Exhibition Record (* solo shows marked by asterisk)
2024 Alumni Invitational Exhibition, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery, Coker University, Hartsville, SC
2021 Dani Wagner: The New Works (group show), Gigi’s Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
2016 Self/Concept, MCAD Main Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2015 April Showers Bring Rainbows, Pheonix Theater, Minneapolis, MN
2014 In Another Voice, MCAD Whittier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2013 Stockholm Syndrome, MCAD Whittier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2013 Made at MCAD, MCAD Main Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2013 First Annual National & International Juried Exhibition, River Walk Artists’ Gallery, East Grand Forks, MN
2013 Interaction, Burnet Art Gallery, Le Meridien Chambers, Minneapolis, MN
2013 12 x 12 Exhibition, Todd Art Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
2013 Let Them Eat Cake! Portraits of Pastries, The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, Rochester, NY
2012 Divergences, BI Worldwide, Edina, MN
2012 Goodbye Moments: An Investigation of the Temporary, MCAD Whittier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2012 The Dirty Queer Show IV: Dirty Queertopia, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
2012 The Figure Now 2012, Fontbonne University, Fine Arts Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2012 Accumulation: Past + Present, MCAD Whittier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2011 Selected Work From the Collection of Jim Boden, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery, Coker University, Hartsville, SC (catalogue)
2010 The Pink Exhibit, Black Creek Arts Council, Hartsville, SC
2010 *Makeshift Love, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery, Coker University, Hartsville, SC
2010 Coker College Senior Exhibit, Black Creek Arts Council, Hartsville, SC

Professional Service
2008-2010 Cofounder and Executive Board Member of Common Ground of Coker University
2005-2006 Vice President of Student Government Association, Northeastern Technical College

Technical Abilities
Graphic Design (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver)
Video Editing (Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, iMovie)
Photography (Digital, Canon & Nikon)
Painting (Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache)
Drawing (Chalk pastel, Charcoal, Pencil)

Publications
2016 The Alphabet Club Anthology Book, Curated by Jamie Fletcher
2015 Queer Mag, Issue 2, Minneapolis, MN

Public Collections
The Charles W. and Joan S. Coker Library, Information and Technology, Coker University, Hartsville, SC
David R. and May R. Coker Center, Coker University, Hartsville, SC.