Miami Art Scene™: January 2025

Friday, January 31, 2025

Must-See Exhibition: ‘Ebb & Flow: Exploring The Womanhood Continuum’ at The Frank Gallery in Pembroke Pines

You still have time to see ‘Ebb & Flow: Exploring The Womanhood Continuum’ at The Frank Gallery in Pembroke Pines!

Truly a MUST-SEE exhibition, offers a space for reflection and empowerment, highlighting the complexities and diversity of feminine experiences across cultures and time.

Ebb & Flow: Exploring the Womanhood Continuum is a dynamic exhibition running from November 21, 2024, to February 22, 2025, at The Frank C. Ortis Gallery in the City of Pembroke Pines. Curated by Sophie Bonet and Pamela Zee Lopez, the exhibition features nine artists exploring the fluid and evolving nature of womanhood. Through a variety of mediums, the artists engage with themes of memory, resilience, the body, and identity, challenging societal constructs of femininity while celebrating its transformative power.

The exhibition offers a space for reflection and empowerment, highlighting the complexities and diversity of feminine experiences across cultures and time. All ages are welcome to enjoy this outstanding art showcase at The Frank Gallery, located at 601 City Center Way in the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida 33025.

Marina Font, Fear – Hope, 2014. Image courtesy of the artist.

Coralina Rodriguez Meyer, Mami Erzulie Dantò (Phara from Pharaohs Miramar). Image courtesy of the artist.

Amy Gelb, Seen, 2023. Image courtesy of the artist.

RPM Projects, 2407 The House Inside My Head, 2011. Image courtesy of the artist.

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Artist Spotlight: Preview New Works by Abby Modell in a Solo Presentation at Art Palm Beach + Contemporary January 22-26, 2025 | Booth #109

Experience the extraordinary glass works on view by renowned contemporary glass artist Abby Modell at Art Palm Beach + Contemporary, explore Modell's magical creations in Booth #109.
Collectors and art aficionados are cordially invited to preview new works by Abby Modell at Art Palm Beach + Contemporary at the Palm Beach County Convention Center January 22-26, 2025 in Booth #109.

Modell’s new Galaxy Collection illustrates the movement and luminosity of the universe. The artist’s vision of celestial waterfalls and cosmic butterflies are interpreted throughout the collection which includes Wall Art, Sculptural Objects and LED Lighting. Modell specializes in hand-applied glass assemblages on three-dimensional surfaces, developed through her exploration of contemporary glass techniques.

Inspired by the reflections of the night sky, Modell’s creations combine saturated ombre color palettes with mirrored surfaces and Swarovski crystals to visually expand dimension. Icy star glass colors layered with clear and frosty hues are the focus of this new body of work. Refracted light, dazzling hues and contemporary designs transport the viewer through an imagined starry sky.

Abby Modell Contemporary Art Glass is proud to be a Swarovski Ingredient Brand Partner. Swarovski recognizes the quality and importance of Modell’s artistic work. Modell is proud to partner with a zero waste certified sustainable glass finishing studio committed to reducing environmental impact on our planet. By recirculating applied glass into many of Modell’s pieces during their creation, the studio honors and preserves the earth and our resources.

Abby Modell is a widely collected and acclaimed glass artist. Her works were most recently featured at the iconic Bloomingdale’s 2023 Holiday Windows flagship store in NYC. She has exhibited collections at numerous fine art fairs and galleries including Salon Art + Design, Collectible NY, Art Palm Beach, the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Scope Miami, Art New York, SOFA Chicago, and the Architectural Digest Design Show, NYC.

Modell’s work is in and has been exhibited at private homes, corporate collections and museums, including the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, the world headquarters of Morgan Stanley in New York City, the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, the Wit Gallery installation at Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA, and the First International Biennale of Santorini, Greece and the 1st International Heclectik-Art Glass Biennial in Portugal. Commissioned collections include the Bloomingdale’s Holiday Windows NYC, Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas luxury cruise ship, and the Faberge Big Egg Hunt in New York City.

Collectors and art aficionados are invited to preview new works by Abby Modell in a solo presentation at Art Palm Beach, January 22-26, 2025 – Booth #109 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

For further information: www.abbymodell.com
Follow Abby Modell on Instagram @AbbyModell

OPENING NIGHT PREMIERE
Wednesday, January 22 | 5pm – 9pm

SHOW HOURS/TICKETS
General Admission

Thursday, January 23 | 11am – 6pm
Friday, January 24 | 11am – 6pm
Saturday, January 25 | 11am – 6pm
Sunday, January 26 | 11am – 6pm

Gallery Spotlight: Experience AVANT GALLERY at Art Palm Beach January 22 - 26, 2025 | BOOTH 711

Art Collectors and aficionados are invited to experience an outstanding fine art exhibition with Avant Gallery Booth 711 at Art Palm Beach January 22 – 26, 2025.

The fair takes place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, Art Palm Beach is internationally renowned as the premiere mid-winter contemporary art fair in The Palm Beaches along Florida’s coastline by both art critics and enthusiasts.

Avant Gallery, long recognized as a trailblazer in showcasing diverse and innovative artistic voices, has just opened a spectacular new space at 1111 Lincoln Road. The gallery’s latest venture occupies a 6,000-square-foot area within the iconic Herzog & de Meuron-designed parking structure, a building synonymous with architectural ingenuity.

Avant Gallery’s decision to establish itself at 1111 Lincoln Road is a bold statement. This celebrated location, known for its striking design and cultural cachet, provides an ideal setting for the gallery’s unique approach to contemporary art. Unlike traditional white-box galleries, Avant Gallery offers a dynamic and immersive experience. The new space’s partitioned layout is deliberately designed to evoke the vibrant atmosphere of an art fair. Visitors are encouraged to wander, discover, and engage deeply with the works on display, creating an experience that feels fresh and personal with every visit.

Avant Gallery Miami Beach is located at 1111 Lincoln Road on Miami Beach, Florida 33139. For press inquiries and further information, please contact Avant Gallery at press@avantgallery.com and follow the gallery on Instagram @avantgallery

Enjoy the fair and explore Avant Gallery's showcase at Art Palm Beach, January 22-26, 2025 – Booth #711 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

OPENING NIGHT PREMIERE
Wednesday, January 22 | 5pm – 9pm

SHOW HOURS/TICKETS
General Admission
Thursday, January 23 | 11am – 6pm
Friday, January 24 | 11am – 6pm
Saturday, January 25 | 11am – 6pm
Sunday, January 26 | 11am – 6pm

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Brandusa Niro: Fashion Icon & Portrait Artist, Capturing the Extraordinary Women Who Graced and Shaped Her Life and Career

Experience the Ethereal Portraits of Brandusa Niro, Lifelong Painter & Fashion Media Titan, at Art Palm Beach

January 22 – 26, 2025 with Avant Gallery

Booth #711 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center

Brandusa Niro, ‘Jacqueline in the Winter Garden’ (2025), Acrylic and Flashe on Canvas, 48″ x 36″
This painting will be showcased at the Art Palm Beach fair January 22 – 26, 2025

Art Collectors and aficionados are invited to experience the ethereal portraits of Brandusa Niro, lifelong painter and fashion media titan, in a fine art exhibition with Avant Gallery Booth #711 at Art Palm Beach January 22 – 26, 2025. The fair takes place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, where guests will enjoy an Opening Night Premiere on Wednesday, January 22nd from 5pm – 9pm. Art Palm Beach is internationally renowned as the premiere mid-winter contemporary art fair in The Palm Beaches along Florida’s coastline by both art critics and enthusiasts.

Brandusa Niro, 'Jacqueline with Pearls' (2024), Acrylic and Flashe on Canvas, 48" x 36"
This painting will be showcased at the Art Palm Beach fair January 22 - 26, 2025

Brandusa Niro, a contemporary multi-disciplinary artist based in Palm Beach and New York, traces her artistic lineage back to her upbringing in Romania. Immersed in a family of creatives, her aunt Geta Caragiu renowned as a sculptor and her uncle Toma Caragiu a famous actor in both film and theatre, Niro’s artistic journey started very early. Brandusa began garnering recognition by winning Romanian National art competitions and captivating audiences on the silver screen, starring in the biggest blockbuster Romanian film “Uncle Marin, the Billionaire,” Niro’s talents shone brightly.

Relocating to the United States, Niro became a titan in the media and publishing worlds eventually becoming Senior Vice President at IMG Media. In 2002, she laid the foundation for her legacy by founding the esteemed American Fashion industry publication, The Daily Front Row, where she remains as Editor-in-Chief today. Throughout these years, Brandusa Niro continued to create artwork and is now making a full return to her greatest passion that never left.

In Brandusa Niro’s newest series of acrylic paintings entitled ‘Models’ her inspiration pays homage to the extraordinary women who have graced Niro’s life and career. With each portraits’ brushstroke, Niro conjures visions of ethereal beauty, infusing her canvases with a great use of bright colors and evoking a range of emotions and moods. A blend of realism and impressionism, Brandusa’s muses are elongated and graceful with luminous eyes that pierce the soul, while their oversized heads and unfinished hands imbue them with an otherworldly allure. The ‘Models’ series evokes senses of sexiness and sensuality yet an eerie, almost haunting, quality, inviting viewers to contemplate the transient nature of beauty itself.

“My muses’ stories begin with their eyes, they go on through the languorous movement of their bodies, their endless limbs, the mood behind the strands of hairs caressing their long necks… and from there on they ask their viewer to continue the story with their own imagination.” -Brandusa Niro.

Niro’s subjects, with their elongated forms and radiant eyes, exude a quiet strength and allure, their oversized heads and unfinished hands adding an ethereal, almost surreal dimension to the works. The series evokes a sense of sensuality and mystery, prompting viewers to reflect on the fleeting and fragile essence of beauty itself.

Collectors and art aficionados are invited to preview new works by Brandusa Niro represented by Avant Gallery in a presentation at Art Palm Beach, January 22-26, 2025 – Booth #711 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

For further information: www.avantgallery.com/collections/brandusa-niro
Follow Brandusa Niro on Instagram @brandusaniro

OPENING NIGHT PREMIERE
Wednesday, January 22 | 5pm – 9pm

SHOW HOURS/TICKETS
General Admission

Thursday, January 23 | 11am – 6pm
Friday, January 24 | 11am – 6pm
Saturday, January 25 | 11am – 6pm
Sunday, January 26 | 11am – 6pm

The Contemporary Art Modern Project (CAMP Gallery) Announces Open Call for this year’s Fiber Show!

The Contemporary Art Modern Project (CAMP Gallery) is beyond pleased to officially announce their open call for this year’s fiber show!

CAMP Gallery invites fiber artists to submit proposals for the 7th edition of their annual exhibition, Women Pulling at The Threads of Social Discourse: Don’t be Absurd, opening October 10, 2025. The exhibition will explore absurdism, referencing Franz Kafka, Albert Camus, Simone de Beauvoir, Jose Saramago and/or Samuel Beckett. We ask that artists submit a proposal first, detailing how their piece compliments the chosen text, with an accompanying sketch and/or render.

✨ Please do not make any pieces before notice of acceptance. ✨

For a full list of details, and links to the gallery's reference materials, see below: and see website for more information: The Camp Gallery.

PROPOSAL PROCESS

Artists are required to be familiar with one (or more) of the texts listed above, and respond directly to their respective subject matter. We have included free links to make the material accessible; all rights retained by respective authors, publishers, and host sites.

We ask that artists submit a proposal first, detailing how their piece compliments the chosen text, with an accompanying sketch and/or render. Please do not make any pieces before notice of acceptance.

Artists are required to explore their response through fiber/textiles, and associated techniques. Artists may use threads, weaving, tapestry, embroidery, tufting, etc. Works can be abstract, figurative, geometric, etc.

Artists can propose one or more pieces ranging in size from 12 inches diameter, 18 inches diameter, 24 inches diameter, 30 inches diameter. We will also accept 2 works 40 inches diameter. All works will be pinned in the gallery, so we ask that proposals exclude frames; embroidery hoops, however, are acceptable.

Please note that this is a Call for Fiber Art; proposals must include practices related to fiber art, whether or not artists’ practices center the medium.

Proposals must be submitted to xoxo@thecampgallery.com with artist’s name and “Don’t Be Absurd” in the subject line.

PERTINENT DATES AND DEADLINES

Last day to submit proposals for large-scale work | March 15, 2025

Last day to submit proposals | April 15, 2025

Notice of acceptance | Rolling

Progress updates | July 15, 2025

Artwork information and final images | August 15, 2025

Last day for artwork receipt | September 18, 2025

Installation | October 6-9, 2025

Opening reception | October 10, 2025

Final day to view exhibition | December 20, 2025

Experience the Ethereal Portraits of Brandusa Niro, Lifelong Painter and Fashion Media Titan, at Art Palm Beach January 22 – 26, 2025 exhibited with Avant Gallery Booth #711 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Brandusa Niro, ‘Jacqueline with Pearls’ (2024), Acrylic and Flashe on Canvas, 48″ x 36″. This painting will be showcased at the Art Palm Beach fair January 22 – 26

Brandusa Niro, ‘Model on a Movie Set 3’ (2024), Acrylic on Canvas, 48″ x 48″

Relocating to the United States, Niro became a titan in the media and publishing worlds eventually becoming Senior Vice President at IMG Media. In 2002, she laid the foundation for her legacy by founding the esteemed American Fashion industry publication, The Daily Front Row, where she remains as Editor-in-Chief today. Throughout these years, Brandusa Niro continued to create artwork and is now making a full return to her greatest passion that never left.

Brandusa Niro, ‘Blue Eyes’ (2024), Acrylic on Canvas, 48″ x 36″

In Brandusa Niro’s newest series of acrylic paintings entitled ‘Models’ her inspiration pays homage to the extraordinary women who have graced Niro’s life and career. With each portraits’ brushstroke, Niro conjures visions of ethereal beauty, infusing her canvases with a great use of bright colors and evoking a range of emotions and moods. A blend of realism and impressionism, Brandusa’s muses are elongated and graceful with luminous eyes that pierce the soul, while their oversized heads and unfinished hands imbue them with an otherworldly allure. The ‘Models’ series evokes senses of sexiness and sensuality yet an eerie, almost haunting, quality, inviting viewers to contemplate the transient nature of beauty itself.

Brandusa Niro, ‘The Goddess’ (2024), Acrylic on Canvas, 48″ x 36″

“My muses’ stories begin with their eyes, they go on through the languorous movement of their bodies, their endless limbs, the mood behind the strands of hairs caressing their long necks… and from there on they ask their viewer to continue the story with their own imagination.” -Brandusa Niro.

Brandusa Niro, ‘Model with Tattoo’ (2024), Acrylic on Canvas, 48″ x 36″

Niro’s subjects, with their elongated forms and radiant eyes, exude a quiet strength and allure, their oversized heads and unfinished hands adding an ethereal, almost surreal dimension to the works. The series evokes a sense of sensuality and mystery, prompting viewers to reflect on the fleeting and fragile essence of beauty itself.

Brandusa Niro, ‘Model on a Movie Set 2’ (2024), Acrylic on Canvas, 48″ x 36″

Collectors and art aficionados are invited to preview new works by Brandusa Niro represented by Avant Gallery in a presentation at Art Palm Beach, January 22-26, 2025 – Booth #711 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

For further information: www.avantgallery.com/collections/brandusa-niro
Follow Brandusa Niro on Instagram @brandusaniro

OPENING NIGHT PREMIERE
Wednesday, January 22 | 5pm – 9pm

SHOW HOURS/TICKETS
General Admission

Thursday, January 23 | 11am – 6pm
Friday, January 24 | 11am – 6pm
Saturday, January 25 | 11am – 6pm
Sunday, January 26 | 11am – 6pm

Monday, January 20, 2025

Markowicz Fine Art at Art Palm Beach January 22-26, 2025 | Booth #409

Explore magnificent works of art from Markowicz Fine Art | Booth 409 at Art Palm Beach January 22 - 26, 2025 taking place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Art Palm Beach is an internationally recognized contemporary art fair, hailed as one of the premier art events in The Palm Beaches. As Palm Beach County’s longest-running art fair, it has a reputation for showcasing an eclectic mix of 20th and 21st century modern, contemporary, and emerging art from some of the world’s most prestigious galleries.

This year Markowicz Fine Art is returning to Art Palm Beach to exhibit incredible works from Beau Simmons, JD Miller, Rachel Bergeret, Arno Elias, Carole Feuerman, Eva Armisen, Isabelle Scheltjens, Ron Agam and more!

FAIR HOURS:

OPENING NIGHT VIP PREMIERE

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025 • 5pm – 9pm

GENERAL ADMISSION

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 • 11am – 6pm

Friday, January 24th, 2025 • 11am – 6pm

Saturday, January 25th, 2025 • 11am – 6pm

Sunday, January 26th, 2025 • 11am – 6pm

PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

650 Okeechobee Blvd.,

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Preview of New Works by Abby Modell in Solo Presentation at Art Palm Beach + Contemporary January 22-26, 2025 | Booth #109

Experience the extraordinary glass works on view by renowned contemporary glass artist Abby Modell at Art Palm Beach + Contemporary, explore Modell's magical creations in Booth #109.

Collectors and art aficionados are cordially invited to preview new works by Abby Modell at Art Palm Beach + Contemporary at the Palm Beach County Convention Center January 22-26, 2025 | Booth #109. Guests will enjoy an Opening Night Premiere on Wednesday, January 22nd from 5pm – 9pm. Modell’s new Galaxy Collection illustrates the movement and luminosity of the universe. The artist’s vision of celestial waterfalls and cosmic butterflies are interpreted throughout the collection which includes Wall Art, Sculptural Objects and LED Lighting. Modell specializes in hand-applied glass assemblages on three-dimensional surfaces, developed through her exploration of contemporary glass techniques.

Inspired by the reflections of the night sky, Modell’s creations combine saturated ombre color palettes with mirrored surfaces and Swarovski crystals to visually expand dimension. Icy star glass colors layered with clear and frosty hues are the focus of this new body of work. Refracted light, dazzling hues and contemporary designs transport the viewer through an imagined starry sky.

Star Ice Blue, Abby Modell (2024)
Mirror, hand-blown glass assemblage, fire-polished glass,
Swarovski crystals, framed.
6’H x 4’W x 4”D
Photo ©Oleg March

Abby Modell Contemporary Art Glass is proud to be a Swarovski Ingredient Brand Partner. Swarovski recognizes the quality and importance of Modell’s artistic work. Modell is proud to partner with a zero waste certified sustainable glass finishing studio committed to reducing environmental impact on our planet. By recirculating applied glass into many of Modell’s pieces during their creation, the studio honors and preserves the earth and our resources.

Star Ice Ombre Waterfall Trio, Abby Modell (2024)
Mirror, hand-blown glass assemblage, fire-polished glass,
Swarovski crystals, framed.
7’H x 2.2’W x 4”D
Photo ©Oleg March

Abby Modell is a widely collected and acclaimed glass artist. Her works were most recently featured at the iconic Bloomingdale’s 2023 Holiday Windows flagship store in NYC. She has exhibited collections at numerous fine art fairs and galleries including Salon Art + Design, Collectible NY, Art Palm Beach, the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Scope Miami, Art New York, SOFA Chicago, and the Architectural Digest Design Show, NYC.

Starburst Butterfly Collection, Abby Modell (2023)
Back-painted glass assemblage, mirror, hand-blown
glass, Swarovski crystals, framed.
7’H x 7’2”W x 4”D
Photo ©Oleg March

Modell’s work is in and has been exhibited at private homes, corporate collections and museums, including the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, the world headquarters of Morgan Stanley in New York City, the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, the Wit Gallery installation at Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA, and the First International Biennale of Santorini, Greece and the 1st International Heclectik-Art Glass Biennial in Portugal. Commissioned collections include the Bloomingdale’s Holiday Windows NYC, Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas luxury cruise ship, and the Faberge Big Egg Hunt in New York City.

Cosmic Butterfy Trio, Abby Modell (2023)
Faceted glass assemblage, Swarovski crystals
32”H x 26”W x 26”D trio
Photo ©Oleg March

Collectors and art aficionados are invited to preview new works by Abby Modell in a solo presentation at Art Palm Beach, January 22-26, 2025 – Booth #109 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

For further information: www.abbymodell.com
Follow Abby Modell on Instagram @AbbyModell

OPENING NIGHT PREMIERE
Wednesday, January 22 | 5pm – 9pm

SHOW HOURS/TICKETS
General Admission

Thursday, January 23 | 11am – 6pm
Friday, January 24 | 11am – 6pm
Saturday, January 25 | 11am – 6pm
Sunday, January 26 | 11am – 6pm

TOP IMAGE:
Moon Ice Panels, Abby Modell (2024)
Back-painted glass assemblage, fire-polished glass,
faceted RockGems, Swarovski crystals, framed
6’2”H x 9’4”W x 4”D
Photo ©Oleg March

Enjoy The Official Art Deco Walking Tour by The Miami Design Preservation

Thursday, January 9th from 10:30am – 12:30pm experience the Official Art Deco District Walking Tour presented by the Miami Design Preservation League. This 1.5 to 2-hour walking tour provides an introduction to the Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern (MiMo) styles found within the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District. Explore hotels, restaurants, and other commercial structures with a visit to a number of interiors. Choose from select dates / PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.

Tour ticket includes free entry to the Art Deco Museum as well as 10% off at the Gift Shop.

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Renowned Autistic Artist Vito Bonanno's Artwork in the Corporate Collections of AMAZON and Google

Vito Bonanno

Vito Bonanno is an internationally collected artist who lives and works on the CT shoreline. He has exhibited in solo exhibitions at Spectrum Miami during Art Basel in Miami, FL, Umbrella Arts Gallery, NYC and Akus Gallery, Willimantic, CT. His numerous group exhibitions include a sold out exhibition at Metro Curates, NYC in 2014, Uarts & CT Places, Hartford, CT, New England ADA, Boston, Ma, The Outsider Art Fair, NY and Intuit Outsider Art Fair, Chicago.

'God Goes to a Jets Game', from Bonanno's Monoprints & Mixed Media series

His outsider creative style results in a mix of hyper-focused autism inspired aesthetic blending street art, pop culture and dreams from his unfiltered world to the canvas. His inspiration is to tap into the daily emotional and social challenges of living with autism, which fuels this hybrid dream-state aesthetic, where conceptual and abstract expressionism styles collide to form enchanting and powerful results. Image and concept driven and imbedded in his personal philosophy, his art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts, fears and dreams. His unique view of the world provides a seemingly endless well of inspiration that fills his head with images and concepts until they spill over onto the canvas bursting on the scene in vibrant colors and hard to ignore imagery that can harbor obvious, but often secret messages.

'King Kong', Obsessions & Meditations series - made with aerosol, acrylic, craypas, paint marker, archival glitter on canvas, 53.5 “ x 63.5” framed. This art piece was acquired by Amazon, they purchased 6 of Bonanno's original pieces for one of their corporate buildings in Seattle.

In 2009, Bonanno won an Award of Excellence in a juried competition for young people with disabilities, produced by VSA Arts and sponsored by Volkswagen in 2009. He was named one of 15 emerging young artists with disabilities and was honored during the artist reception in Washington, DC. His winning pieces, “Ghost Town on Davenport Avenue” was exhibited at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and then was part of a traveling exhibition that went on a two year nationwide tour of university and independent galleries. Additionally, a second winning piece titled “Southhaven People”, was on exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. before also partaking in the nationwide traveling exhibition that ran through September 2011.

Due to a lack of accessible art education programs for college age adults with autism and other similar neuro-diversities, Bonanno began private art classes at Creative Arts Workspace in New Haven in 2006 and has continued his formal training via private instruction from a variety of formally trained artists.

In January 2012, Bonanno unveiled his first SOLO EXHIBITION, “Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls”, at Akus Gallery at Eastern CT State University which included works on paper, canvas, video pieces, a student-artist interactive mural project and installations. Akus Gallery Director, Elizabeth Peterson stated, “The characters, objects and ideas that inhabit Vito Bonanno’s work act and interact in striking ways. Caught within the grids and map-like structures he imagines, they are often in a struggle between multiple worlds. He has found a way to tap in the intensity of focus and insight afforded him through autism to unleash a formidable creative power and vision.”

'Girl Crush' (2014), aerosol, acrylic, craypas, paint pen, marker on canvas, 29.5" H x 29.5" W framed

May 24, 2014 was the Opening Reception of Bonanno’s Solo Exhibition, Truck’n With Vito! , at Umbrella Arts Gallery, NYC. Here Bonanno presented his Truck’n with Vito! series of 50 intimate pieces on canvas. Of special note is that the reception was the kickoff party for a traveling art education and awareness campaign of the same name, Truck’n With Vito!, Bonanno and his team transformed a typical van into a pop up art gallery that traveled through CT earlier in the year. From May through July the roaming art gallery came to New York and made stops at various locations in the city, including Bushwick Open Studios, sharing Bonanno’s art and spreading the word for the need for increased accessible higher education in the arts for adults with autism.

'Red' (2017), spray paint, acrylic paint, paint marker, and artist marker on canvas, 36″H x 24″W x 1.5″D

For many years, Bonanno was represented in CT and NY by veteran NYC Art Dealer and co-owner of New York City based Umbrella Arts Gallery, Margaret Bodell. Bodell helped define and expand the outsider movement during the 90’s in her East Village gallery by including artists with autism alongside contemporary artists, bringing to light the unique visual arts gift that only the autistic can tap into such as Michael Madore, Jessica Park and Ricky Hagedorn. Bodell encouraged Bonanno to collaborate with “mainstream” artist’s one-on-one-in order to help him round out his artistic voice and philosophy, as well as to encourage him to continue to explore additional artistic mediums. These collaborations have resulted in a discovery of the wide range of artistic styles that Bonanno is capable of and have furthered his independent and unedited artistic voice. Bodell believes Bonanno has a rare form of extreme talent.

Currently Vito is promoted and represented by Kat Wagner of Miami Art Scene in Florida, and ArtLifting.com.

At present Vito continues to work independently and with various artist facilitators, expanding his knowledge of materials and techniques and further developing his creative vision from his studio located in Old Saybrook, CT.

Bonanno was diagnosed with PDD/Autism just before his 4th birthday. Because he was language delayed, his parents and teachers developed strategies that tapped into his high visual acuity, utilizing storyboard styles to relay academic and social information. He was also encouraged to draw in storyboard format to express his feelings. The storyboard grid remains prominent in his work and studio preparation today and is a poignant reminder of a boy who was trapped in his own mind. Through the tireless work of professionals and strong family support, he has been able to develop into a high functioning young man who has learned to transform his internal existence into a powerful artistic expression.