Press

Vito Bonanno is an internationally collected visual artist who has completed many award winning projects and exhibitions. He has been featured in over 50 national and international publications. Vito has garnered multiple awards within the art industry, he has held museum exhibitions, gallery shows, artist interviews and exhibited at numerous art fairs. His work is sought after by private and corporate clients, he has been invited to participate and showcase his work for high profile projects and exhibitions.

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Miami Art Scene™, “Rising Art Star Vito Bonanno”, September 2014

Njoy Interview, Truck’n With Vito! , Bushwick Open Studios, NY, June 2014, https://www.njoy.com/blogs/truckin-with-vito

Jeanne Byington, The Importance of Earnest Service, “Service of Art as Communication”, October 21, 2013, http://blog.jmbyington.com

Ed Osborn, The Office of University Relations, “Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding With The Train Girls”, January 2012

Brenda Sullivan, Hometown Today News Publication,  “Windham County Students Invited to create interactive mural with artist Vito Bonanno, “ January 2012

Betsy Yagla, “Art and Autism; The spray painted visions of Vito Bonanno”, The Advocate, March 2010

Stephen Kobasa, New Haven Independent, November 2009

Pamela McLoughlin, “Vito’s dreams turn into art awards”, New Haven Register, October 2009

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“Vito’s art has a cultural contribution that is formidable and one that mainstream artists aspire to achieve.  He has a rare form of extreme talent,”, Margaret Bodell, Umbrella Arts Gallery, NYC

“Vito Bonanno is represented by a wonderful pair of mixed-media images, comprised of a dialogue between graffiti-like fragmented text and high-toned sketchy symbols, that possess a disarming charm that is hard to resist”, Judy Birke, Art Critic, New Haven Register

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METRO Curates New York Featuring Vito Bonanno Opens January 22, 2014

New Haven, CT/New York, Local art personality, Vito Bonanno, will join Fahey.Bodell. Stein/Umbrella Arts Booth 109 at New York’s prestigious Metro Show opening January 22, 2014. When the 2014 edition of the METRO Show opens for its five-day run on Wednesday evening January 22, at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, fairgoers will experience a thoroughly engaging concept billed METRO Curates. This all-encompassing theme puts forth single-artist and/or focused presentations curated by METRO dealers to distinctly articulate their point of view and where their specialty lies.

Vito Bonanno is known for his innovative style of street art merged with images that are inspired by his autism.  Vito frequently exhibits throughout Connecticut and NYC. The theme of his current body of work is New York City imagery. Vito is known as a local art innovator by taking his work mobile as pictured below in his mobile ‘Art Mart’, which will be popping up at art happenings all over the USA.

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Nationally Recognized Artist Vito Bonanno Taps Into The Special Powers Fueled By Autism

MIAMI – (November 5, 2014) – Miami Art Scene™ announces New England & New York-based artist Vito Bonanno’s exhibition  “Obsessions & Meditations”,  at the juried fine art show, Spectrum Miami in Booth S916 from Wednesday, December 3 – Sunday, December 7, 2014 in the heart of the Wynwood Arts District during Art Week in Miami.

Bonanno brings his mix of hyper-focused Autism inspired work, which blends street art, pop culture and dreams from his unfiltered world to Miami. Bonanno is a nationally 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. Bonanno arrives in Miami fresh off his noteworthy Solo Exhibition at Umbrella Arts Gallery, NY, with its spontaneous street performances including Bonanno’s art van, a traveling art gallery called Truck’N With Vito! created to bring attention to accessible art education programs for adults with autism. His work is collected by art world luminaries such as Joey Arias, Robert Galinsky and Monica Watkins.

Veteran NYC Art Dealer, Margaret Bodell, who represents Bonanno, 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, Ricky Hagedorn and the next generation of taste makers, Vito Bonanno. Bodell believes Bonanno has a rare form of extreme talent. “Vito’s art has a cultural contribution that is formidable and mainstream artists aspire to.”

Located at 3011 NE 1^st Avenue at NE 30^th Street, the show’s VIP Opening Preview Party, SPECTRUM After Dark, takes place from 6-10pm on Wednesday, December 3, withmusic and DJ, a full cash bar, complimentary cocktails and passed hor d’oeuvres, and includes the unveiling of Bonanno’s newest collection of mixed media art.

 Bodell will be on hand at Spectrum Art Fair in Miami to talk about Bonanno’s evolving work and his unique sources of inspiration that unleash his fierce creative power and vision, along with Cindy Watson,  Art Team Director.

Bonanno’s “Artmobile” will be in Miami with him during Art Week, popping-up at local art venues in Wynwood, Downtown Miami and South Beach.

To obtain VIP passes, schedule an interview or receive additional information, please contact: Kat Wagner, kat@themiamiartscene.com, (786)571-6112. See more at: www.vitobonanno.com.

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Solo Exhibition at Umbrella Arts NYC, May 15-July 31st Reception May 15, 2014.

NEW YORK CITY – Umbrella Arts 317 East 9^th St known for its rare shows of extreme talent brings TRUCK’N WITH VITO! to the East village. Gallerists MaryAnn Fahey and Margaret Bodell, are committed to keeping the artistic spirit of the East Village alive as a place of discovery, movement and change and have long championed under-represented individuals and groups for over a decade.

May 15-July 31st will showcase a mobile project called TRUCK’N WITH VITO!

This exhibition is on wheels and will be seen all over Manhattan and Brooklyn at Bushwich open studios, The Howl Festival and in the East Village and Dumbo. This exhibition inside umbrella arts will feature small intimate paintings made on the road and in the artists CT studio. This exhibition also kicks off a fundraising campaign to keep TRUCK’N WITH VITO! going and spreading the word about Autism and artistic talent. We invite the public will join our Indiegogo campaign to keep Vito Truckin!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/truck-n-with-vito

Vito Bonanno is known for his innovative style of street art merged with images that are inspired by his autism.  Vito frequently exhibits throughout Connecticut and NYC.

During this month-long celebration the Artmobile will make stops at Fountain Gallery, LAND, the Bushwick Open Studios, and the HOWL Festival in Tompkins Square Park.  Other stops in Summer, 2014 include the Sono Arts Festival in Norwalk, CT, In the Fall he will visit the DUMBO Arts Festival, the IAM Festival, OpSail, Envision Fest, LAMP, the SOFA Fair, Wynwood Arts District in Miami in December and METRO Curates in January, 2015.

TRUCK’N WITH VITO! will be a beacon of light and inspiration to those on and off the spectrum and will promote awareness of the potential of the untapped creative and productive lives that might never have a chance to be realized unless the public, businesses and communities change the way they perceive these artists as cultural contributors and advocate for accessible resources in the State and beyond.

Since 2010, Vito has exhibited widely throughout Connecticut, New York, Chicago, Miami and the Hamptons.  His work has received huge public recognition, he is the recipient of numerous awards and honors given by institutions throughout the Northeast.  Vito is a role model for other artists with autism who see the world in a unique and often unfiltered way, and want to share their vision with us. For more formation go to www.vitobonanno.com

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Interview with NJOY during my exhibit at Bushwick Open Studios (BOS) May 30 – June 1, 2014

BOS is New York’s largest open studios event, a three-day arts and culture festival, hosted annually by the volunteer organization Arts in Bushwick (AiB). Now in its eighth year, this event is a celebration of Bushwick’s vibrant creative community and local art scene: https://www.njoy.com/blogs/truckin-with-vito 

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Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls Exhibition

Posted by Dwight Bachman on January 23, 2012 3:53 PM

Written by Ed Osborn
Willimantic, Conn. – The Akus Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State University presents “Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls” on view from Jan. 19 through Mar. 1, 2012.  An Interactive Mural project, which is a Dean’s Cup event, takes place Thursday, Feb. 2 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Akus Gallery, bottom floor of Shafer Hall.  Students, staff, faculty and members of the community are invited to join Bonanno in creating the mural.  A reception with the artist will be held on Thursday Feb 2 from 5- 7 p.m. in Akus Gallery.

Vito Bonanno’s art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts and dreams, centered around objects or topics that “get stuck in his head,” including traffic lights, grids, ceiling fans and graffiti. His work is image and concept driven and may incorporate any media which will fuel this expression. Using spray paints, gouache, India inks, oils, acrylics and other media, Bonanno works on paper, canvas or whatever support may suit. Most of the characters or topics he draws are important to his life and embedded in his personal philosophy. His work has been described as raw, unfiltered, unedited, truthful, comedic, irresistible, bold, playful and charming, much like the man himself. “He has found a way to tap into the intensity of focus and insight afforded him through Autism Spectrum Disorder to unleash a formidable creative power and vision,” explains Elizabeth Peterson, director of the Akus Gallery.

“Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls” offers an unabashed glimpse into the inner workings of the artist’s complex and creative mind. Shrine-like installations and an unconventional, quirky accompaniment of objects bring both alarming and charmingly comedic elements to the table but simultaneously deliver Bonanno’s messages into sharp focus. A distinct dialogue is present between the physical objects, all directly referenced in the artist’s work, and the vast range of media used in the artwork.

The Interactive Mural project of “Unfiltered V” is a Dean’s Cup Event at Eastern. The Dean’s Cup competition is an academic and service-related event that promotes spirit and collaboration among students living in the residence halls on campus. The competition’s purpose is to see which residence hall can get the most students to attend special events on campus while simultaneously encouraging students to become well seasoned in a variety of experiences; conducive to Eastern’s liberal arts mission.

The Akus Gallery is located in the lower level of Shafer at the corner of Windham and Valley Streets in Willimantic. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The public is invited.  Admission is free. For more information regarding this and other exhibitions at Akus Gallery, please call (860) 465-4659 or visit on the web at www.easternct.edu/akusgallery.

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REVIEW by Elizabeth Person, Director of Akus Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State University

In January 2012, Vito 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.  For more information on this exhibition visit www.easternct.edu/akusgallery and chose “past exhibitions” to find his solo exhibit listing and photos.

“Vito Bonanno’s 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 and graffiti.  His work is image and concept driven and may incorporate any media which will fuel this expression.  Using spray paints, gouache, India inks, oils and acrylics, he works on paper, canvas or other materials.  Most of his characters or subjects are central to his life and embedded in his personal philosophy.  His work has been described as ‘raw’, ‘unfiltered’, ‘unedited’, ‘truthful’, ‘comedic’, ‘irresistible’, ‘bold’, ‘playful’ and ‘charming’, adjectives that describe Vito himself.

He has found a way to tap into the intensity of focus and insight afforded him through Autism Spectrum Disorder to unleash a formidable creative power and vision.”

—-Elizabeth Person, Director of the Akus Gallery

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‘Vito’s Vocabulary’ by Elizabeth Person, Director of Akus Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State University

A Brief List of Names, Words, Phrases and Ideas in the Work of Artist Vito Bonanno
www.easternct.edu/aksugallery

Characters of His Own Invention
Luis the Rat
The Train Girls
Big Fat Bubbly K
Lysol Girl
Eustace Bagged
Mr. Cherry Bomb
Allouh Taiwan Lalwani
Xigo (or Zigo)
Brooklyn Cat
Kyle Black
Bling Bling Boy
Big Show
Characters Who Are Real People
Barack Obama
Mr. Bucchini
Jim Morrison
Osama Bin Laden
Trent
Objects
Traffic Lights
Ceiling Fans
Toilets
Cities and Towns
Graffiti
Concepts/Events
Politics
Terrorism
God
Sports
Peace

“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. For example the graffiti Vito notices along route 91 becomes in his work ‘Fleeting Graffiti’ as he describes it since it may be there temporarily. Or it may be ‘Extinct Graffiti’ only recorded vividly in his memory and work should someone wash it away in real time. His characters, particularly ‘Luis the Rat’, figured heavily in many works. Luis is like a talisman to Vito and a powerful symbol of triumph over difficulty. If Luis is sent to the ‘Plague the Bills’ he is symbolically removing financial issues. Vito is keenly interested in the struggle of good versus evil; he wants very much to see what is good prevailing. The subjects of terrorism, god, politics, and peace figure strongly in much his work. Some characters are like friends, some foes, some are beautiful girls he dreams up like “Allouh Taiwan Lalwani.” Sometimes the letters of the alphabet themselves take on a powerful meaning to Vito. The letters ‘X’ and ‘K’ in particular are imbued with a power to ward off difficulty. Now if you are looking at Vito’s work or speaking with him about ‘Riding with the Train Girls’ or an ‘X for Trent’ or ‘Luis the Rat Plaguing the Evil Lights’, you may have a key into some of these items of particular fascination and step into the dynamic, colorful and beautiful world of Vito Bonanno’s imagination.” – Elizabeth Peterson, Akus Gallery

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