Our Spotlight Shines on Global Art Sensation Vito Bonanno

Join us at The Miami Art Expo June 19-26, 2015 taking place at the beautiful water view gallery, Nina Torres Fine Art, in the heart of Downtown Miami’s arts, entertainment and cultural district. The Miami Art Scene™ Social Media Lounge will be streaming live coverage and highlights of this one-week international art exhibition in Miami. Our lounge will feature an Artist Spotlight on rising art star Vito Bonanno, a sensational global artist whose work is collected from New York to Miami, Dallas, Tokyo and beyond.

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. 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. 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.

Bonanno wrapped up 2014 with a successful solo exhibition at Spectrum Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach this past December. After Art Week in Miami, the artist kicked off 2015 with a 3-month exhibition in the Miami Downtown Arts District at the McCormick Place art gallery, where an Autism Awareness Art Night was held on March 6th, hosted in collaboration with the University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD) – an organization that provides support and assistance with the goal of optimizing the potential of people with autism and related disabilities. Bonanno is currently represented by Artblend Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, the gallery is exhibiting several works from Bonanno’s highly acclaimed Obsessions & Meditations series.

The artist’s most recent projects include Tokyo’s prestigious global art competition Art Oylmpia 2015, where Bonanno’s art piece Skate Park Krusty from his Obsessions & Meditations series was chosen for inclusion in this exclusive art contest and exhibition June 13-28, 2015 held in Tokyo, Japan. The panel of judges will include Gregory Amenoff (Artist, Professor at Columbia University), Brett Littman (Executive Director of The Drawing Center / New York), Eric Shiner (Director of The Andy Warhol Museum / Pittsburgh), Nicolas Touron (Artist, Professor at School of Visual Arts) and Kara Vander Weg (Director of Gagosian Gallery) along with others from Paris and Tokyo. Bonanno’s work was also selected by Saatchi Art for their new collection, In Celebration of Basquiat and Street Art – curated by Jessica McQueen, Assistant Curator at Saatchi Art. The artist was also asked to participate in an exhibition of previous awardees from the VSA Emerging Artists Program in the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations with sponsorship from Volkswagen Group of America. This exhibition will be showcased as part of the celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the ADA and 40th Anniversary of VSA and will open on Friday, July 10, 2015. Curated by Stephanie Moore, the exhibit includes the work of up to 20 artists who will represent the past 13 years of the VSA Emerging Young Artist Program, Bonanno was an awardee in 2009.

The Miami Art Expo kicks off on Friday, June 19th at 6pm with a spectacular opening reception, champagne-infused private viewing for invitees and VIP ticket holders. With a live DJ rolling out the tunes in the background, and the exclusive Miami Art Scene™ Social Media Lounge streaming live coverage and highlights of this highly anticipated international art exhibition. Our Artist Spotlight will feature never-before-seen work from Bonanno’s new Anxiety & Dreams Series. Visitors can expect a variety of paintings, photography, urban art, and sculptures. A showcase of well-established artists, as well as young, emerging talent will be displayed during a stellar one-week exhibition within Miami’s art market for beginning and seasoned collectors to experience. The event gives a great opportunity to explore and invest in global art.