While it may seem
that the contemporary art world has left behind the tradition of painting
floral imagery, and even the use of watercolor to some extent, Gary Bukovnik’s
work stands as a testament to the contrary. Few American artists in the
twentieth century have succeeded in captivating the art world by the age-old
tradition of flower painting. Georgia O’Keefe, Charles Demuth, and
Gary Bukovnik stand among a select few.
Critics, patrons, and art historians have admired
the work of Gary Bukovnik for over thirty years. His
paintings are well respected academically as well as commercially as he
has exhibited in gallery shows nationwide and has placed work in virtually
every prominent museum in the U.S.
His celebration of floral life harkens back to
Renaissance painting, the Impressionists as well as the scientifically
precise botanicals, all of which honor the unprecedented beauty of the
flower. Bukovnik’s work maintains a contemporary edge, while recognizing
the historical traditions of rendering flowers in their realistic form.
Rather than situating these compositions amidst busy backgrounds and realistic
settings, Bukovnik allows the flowers to breath by surrounding them with
the simplicity of whiteness, inviting the viewer to focus on the delicate
beauty of individual blossoms and lush leaves.
He speaks of his newest work and all of is work
for that matter, as a reflection of his life, noting that the works are
very optimistic and joyful. The past five years have been exceptionally
positive for Bukovnik, as he sought out new explorations and studied at
the American Academy in Rome.
While his earlier works display more still-life representations of flowers,
his recent work adds a dimension of spontaneity and creativity. Reflecting
on his own life, Bukovnik expresses, “it’s as if everything
gets so excited and so happy that it can’t sit still”.. it
is from this sense of enthusiasm that his new work was born. Vases levitate
in air with ecstatic energy while flowers spring from their vases dancing
into the air. The work maintains the same vibrancy and precise technique
of previous works but it reaches a new level of creative expression beyond
that of the past.
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