Artists transform an empty canvas into a work of art through their skill, experience, inspiration, and senses. David Garibaldi’s life and transition into a world-renowned performance painter is no different.

The culture and color of graffiti art served as an early inspiration for Garibaldi. Born in Los Angeles, he later moved as a youth to South Sacramento. It was there that he learned to enjoy the use of his hands and body through art on “larger and somewhat illegal canvases” by painting graffiti as an angst teen. Graffiti artist and high school dropout, he was living day-by-day. The only constants in his life were music and art.

Garibaldi had always combined his passion for music and color, or rhythm and hue, in his artwork. But it wasn’t until viewing performance painter Denny Dent’s portrait of Jimi Hendrix that Garibaldi discovered how his passion for paint and music could be an inspirational experience for more than just himself. He discovered music-driven art, and in some ways it discovered him, revealing a portrait of passion and purpose.

David Garibaldi’s synergy of music and art is what makes him unique as a painter and a performer.

Inspiration serves Garibaldi in his art and his life. “Living with passion and purpose” drives Garibaldi every day to transcend what he does as an artist into a philanthropist.

A high school animation teacher first inspired him to take his passion for graffiti and turn it into a more positive and creative direction. Garibaldi never forgets this encouragement and more importantly the value of someone believing in him. Every performance is an opportunity to give back – either through teaching youth or providing resources to the community.

In a few short years, and at 29 years old, Garibaldi raised over $1,000,000 for nonprofits and charities across the country through his art. He works closely with charities such as Special Olympics, Echoes of Hope, Sacramento Children’s Home and World Vision.