Dan Rizzie was a typical teenager in 1967, looking forward to his junior year of high school in the USA.  It came as an unwelcome surprise when his family informed him that they would be moving across the world to India for his last two years of high school.  As it turned out, his time at AIS ended up being an “incredible experience” and far from what he had envisioned.  

In 2021 we talk about the AES community being one of the most important elements to many of our lives here in Delhi, and although much has changed since the 1960’s, this diverse, supportive community remains a common thread.  Rizzie recalls the AIS community feeling like one big group from different cultures and countries and he enjoyed the camaraderie of different age groups.  Rizzie says that his friends from his time at AIS still feel like family.  

Rizzie is an internationally acclaimed artist with artwork displayed in several collections across the United States; there is a touch of India in much of his work.  He was a budding artist while at AIS, and he enjoyed being the cartoonist for the popular school newspaper, the Taj Times.  His art teacher, Mrs. Rahman, recognized that he had more than just a fleeting interest in art and encouraged his creativity.  It was while here that he first started taking art seriously, and he fondly recalls beginning to “experiment with imagery” for a particular project and getting into trouble for pouring paint on the roof of the art building.  We don't have any evidence, but apparently, the project was successful!  

Rizzie has published two books, “Dan Rizzie” in 2015, and “Bird on a Blade” in 2018, a collaboration of lyrics and paintings with Rosanne Cash.  We love to hear from alumni like Dan Rizzie and hope that we can connect with him in Delhi someday!!

Below are a few amazing samples.  Learn more about Dan and his art at:  www.danrizziestudio.com