Meet the artist

Born in Quito Ecuador, Dario Scholis started to paint as a young child. He graduated from the School of Fine Arts at the Central University of Quito, and later attended the Corcoran School of Arts in Washington, D.C.

Dario has a history of public art which now takes a new direction with the creation of the murals at the Hersch Tower; a project made possible by the Elizabeth Renaissance Foundation.

Previous public projects include Elizabeth’s September 11 Monument in honor of local victims of 9/11 which stands at the Elizabeth Historic Midtown Train Plaza; the metal ornaments at the front of the Elizabethport Community Center; the Art Outside the Box Project, and historic slides from recycled signage portraying the rich history of the city, as part of the Elizabeth River Trail project developed by Groundworks Elizabeth.

In recent years Dario has created interactive art projects made possible by the Union County Board of Commissioners,  focusing on recycling. One such project was the annual "Paint by the Pond" which featured colorful miniature houses made from recycled cardboard boxes and other household items that are usually discarded. This project encouraged free artistic expression and provided local families an opportunity to come together and enjoy the County’s parks.
A recent project, also made possible by the Union County Board of Commissioners, was the Recycled Art Wildlife Walk, a collection of oversized sculptures of animals created from recycled plastic bottles. Emphasizing the importance of recycling and caring for the environment, the colorful wildlife collection was displayed in October 2020 at the Trailside Nature Center in Mountainside, New Jersey.

Scholis has been involved in teaching art to adults and children for over 20 years. He has led workshops that emphasize the importance of recycling and environmental care through interactive art projects. He has also participated in exhibitions, such as the Hispanic Heritage Art Exhibit in Union County, showcasing the diversity and creativity of Hispanic art.

Additionally, Scholis is recognized for his community involvement, including offering art classes to residents of group homes and supporting local causes through the sale of his artwork.