In the rarified and pure atmosphere of space travel, light takes on an unusual brilliance. On our planet light bounces off the innumerable objects surrounding it, including particulate matter in the air itself. The resulting illumination of objects results in a gentle glow of diffused light and equally soft shadows. In space however light, with nothing intervening between source and object, produces brilliant illumination and sudden, stark shadows.

The sharp illumination and high contrast of unimpeded light characterizes the work of Daniel Greene.

Cincinnati-born Greene studied fine art at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and at New York's Art Students League. He developed into a master of oil painting and pastel. He taught between 1969 and 1974 at the National Academy of Design and between 1974 and 1982 at the Art Students League. He now ranks among the nation's very best painters of portraits, figures and still life.

Greene is known above all for his portraits. He has painted formal portraits of many dozens of well-known figures including William Randolph Hearst, Chen Chi, Rush Limbaugh, Wally Shirra and Ayn Rand. His still-life work utilizes flowers, fabric and glass or pottery. He is widely known as well for his painting series, among them the New York subway series and the auction house series.

Greene's accomplishments and awards are numerous. His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Academy of Design, West Point and the IBM Corporation as well as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Columbia Universities. In 2003 he was awarded the Medal of Honor at New York's Salmagundi Club. He received the Portrait Society of America's Gold Medal in 2001, and in 1996 he was awarded the John Singer Sargent Medal by the American Society of Portrait Artists.

Daniel Greene has distinguished himself among the leaders of government, banking, education and industry for many years. He has few peers and certainly no artistic superiors.