Renowned Global Artist Vito Bonanno Teaches Us the Art of Autism

Vito Bonanno lives and works in New Haven, CT. 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.

'Red' 2016. Dead Trivia series, 

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.

Akus Gallery, ECSU 2012 "unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls"

In January 2012, Bonanno unveiled his first SOLO EXHIBITION, “Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls”, at Akus Gallery at Eastern Connecticut 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”.

'Skate Park Krusty' 2014. Obsessions & Meditations series. 1st in Show, Art Olympia Competition Tokyo, Japan 2015.

This was the start of an incredible journey that launched the beginning of a successful art career spanning the global landscape from New York, Miami, Los Angeles, London to Tokyo. This is the story of Vito Bonanno, learn more at: www.vitobonanno.com

Keep Your Eyes On Global Art Sensation Vito Bonanno

New England and New York-based artist Vito Bonanno’s mix of hyper-focused Autism inspired work is a blend of street art, pop culture and dreams from his unfiltered world.

'Red', Dead Trivia Series, 2016.

 

Bonanno is an internationally recognized artist who taps into the daily emotional and social challenges of living with autism, placing his innermost feelings onto canvas. The work is image and concept driven and imbedded in his personal philosophy. His art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts and dreams, coupled around objects or topics that “get stuck in his head”, including traffic lights, grids, ceiling fans, graffiti and pop culture.

'Dream Girl', Anxiety & Dreams Series, 2014.

His work is collected by art world luminaries such as Joey Arias, Robert Galinsky, Supermodel Monica Watkins, and the owner of Azucar Ice Cream Company in Miami, Suzy Batlle, to name a few.

'Airplane Crashes into Aerosol Building', Airplane Series, 2015.

Bonanno began his artist representation with 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.

'Daffy Goes To Waterbury with a Ninja Turtle', Obsessions & Meditations Series, 2014.