ANDREA BONFILS

 

Artist Statement

Andrea Bonfils is an American mixed media artist based in Darien, Connecticut and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Bonfils uses a wide range of materials including, found objects, photography and encaustic wax to create paintings and sculpture that investigate the convergence of nature and humanity. Her works have been exhibited in the Newport Art Museum, Bruce Museum, Yellowstone Art Museum and the permanent collection of Museum of Encaustic Art. In addition she has been featured in a variety of private and corporate collections globally including Tiffany & Co., Meyers Jabara Hotels, Fields Development Corporation USA, 1 Hotel and Merx Aviation. Andrea has completed over 80 commissions and presented in numerous solo and group shows. 
 
In 1985 Andrea received her Masters degree in clinical social work. After a long career in administration, Bonfils pivoted into a career in Fine Art 20 years ago. Driven by her curiosity of the community and humanity coupled with her love of nature Bonfils’ art proves to be the nexus of all these experiences. In the end her work is a symbiosis of life itself. 
 
Much like her love for outdoor adventure Andrea is eager to explore a variety of materials and tools including a blow torch, irons, encaustics, photography, resin and found objects. Bonfils’ techniques give way to a vision that is intense, ethereal, contemplative and at times fantastical. Earthy reverence is consistently present in her work as exemplified by her use of beeswax or reclaimed materials or seen in her dramatic photographs of wild animals or Submerged Gardens.
 
Andrea encourages her viewers to touch and engage with her highly textured encaustics. The tactile relationship and variable perspectives associated with these materials continually evolves. When establishing the connection between humanity and nature in her work, Bonfils draws upon her background in community organization and talk therapy where she developed an appreciation for the human experience. She is always seeking out new ways to unite, explore, and ultimately dig deeper into the meaning and conditions of life.

Select Exhibitions:

Solo Exhibitions

Biophilia, Four Seasons Rancho Encantando Resort and InArt Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2022

Botanical Refraction, Isabella Garrucho Fine Art, Greenwich, CT 2018

Plunge,  Bruce Lurie Gallery, LA, CA, 2017

Muse Gallery, Hilton Head SC, 2017

Natures Way  - InArt Santa Fe Gallery, NM, 2014

Beyond Deep  - Anelle Gandelman Fine Art, NY, 2012

Waxing Poetic  - Anelle Gandelman Fine Art, NY, 2010

The Stone House, RI, 2009

New Encaustics  - Anelle Gandelman Fine Art, NY, 2008

Water Views  - Mead Gallery, CT, 1999

 
 
Group Exhibitions

Yellowstone Art Museum Art Auction, Billings, MT, 2021

Bruce Museum Art Auction, Greenwich, CT, 2017-22

Museum of Encaustic Art. 50 States Permanent collection, 2019

Photo Summer, Isabella Garrucho Fine Art, Greenwich, CT 2019

IN REPOSE, Evoke Contemporary Gallery, SF, NM, 2018

Watercourse Way, Evoke Contemporary Gallery, SF, NM, 2017

Show House, Santa Fe Benefit, New Mexico, 2015, 2016

Gateway to Imagination - Farmington Museum, NM, 2012

Greenwich Art to the Avenue, featured in Serendipity Magazine, CT, 2012

Featured Artist - 49th & 50th Anniversary CCNS Art Show, CT, 2011, 2012

Best in Show, Memory Maps, Newport Art Museum, 2011

Summer Selects  - Susan Eley Fine Art, NYC, 2010

CCBF Auction, Sotheby's, NYC, 2009, 2010

Uncommon Ground,  Anelle Gandelman Fine Art, 2009

Artspace CWOS CONNcentric, Juror, Liza Statton, CT, 2008

CCBF Auction, Phillips de Pury and Company, NYC, 2008

 

Select Collections, Commissions 

Vlade and Ana Divac, Serbia

Tiffany's & Co., London (3 storefronts)

Manchester and Bank Street and Royal Exchange, London

Lupe and Jose Antonio Rivero, Compania Minera Autlan, Mexico

Jason and Jayne Hyrdlicka, Jetstar, Australia

Christine and Micheal Kruyt, The Netherlands

Maria de Lourdes Borges, Brazil

Forster and Thomas, Portugal

Antoinette and Jerry Silvey, Starwood Capital, CT, NM, FL

Darien Country Club, CT

Delamar Hotel, CT

Hilton Head Health Resort and Spa, SC

Jessica Flemming, Jessie James, NYC 

Meyers Jabara Hotels, USA

Museum of Encaustic Art, Permanent Collection, SF, NM

Miller & Long, Development Co, DC

Jim Caufield, Fields Development Corporation, USA

Jan Kniffen, Chairman Bruce Museum and Kathleen Metinko, CT

Comet Productions, NYC

Selectman Jayme and John Stevenson, CT

Hahn Architects, NYC

Huelster Design Studio, CT

Jetavicon Partners,CT, NYC

Third Coast Capital, TX

Vertrue Corporation, CT

Andrew and Sydney Davis, NYC, NM

Stamford Hospital, CT

Push Fitness, NY

Merx Aviation, NYC

Four Seasons Rancho Encantando, NM

Prull Custom Builders, NM

Plaza Condominiums, NYC

The Blake Hotel, Taos Ski Valley, NM

W Hotel, Boston MA

1 Hotel, Nashville, TN (commissioned 68 unique artworks)

Eliane Cordia Van Reesema, Curator Triton Foundation

Rhea Seehorn and Graham Larson, LA, CA
 

Press

Santa Fe (magazine) 2022

Su Casa Magazine, 2021

New England Home, 2014, 2015, 2020

NY Times Arts Section, April 2019

Cowboys and Indians Magazine, 2019

CODA WORX Magazine Feature Award 2018, 2019

LOCALE LA 2017

At Home 2016, 2017UNITY Magazine (Sustainability) 2017

BlueWave Magazine, Cover Feature, 2016

Connecticut Cottages and Gardens, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2016

Debbi Nigro Show, 2015

Santa Fean Magazine, 2014

Serendipity, 2012

Professional Artist Magazine, feature, 2012

Greenwich Times, 2011 

New Canaan, Darien, Rowayton Magazine,"Local Color," 2011

BetterTV National Syndication, 2011

American Art Collector, 2009 

The Providence Journal, Stone House, 2009

Providence Business News, Home, Stone House, 2009

Yale Daily News, 2008 

Westchester Cottages and Gardens, 2008 ”¨Coastal Living Magazine, 2006”¨ 

Online

ARTSY 2018-2022

Artnet 2008-22

1st Dibs, 2018-22

News.Yahoo and News Guide.US, CCBF Sotheby's, 2009

Visit Rhode Island, Stone House, 2009

ARTINFO, 2008

ArtDaily, 2008

 
Access World News, 2006

 

Education

The Aldrich Museum Professional Program

Boston University, MSW

 

University of Hartford, BS, BSW
 

Representation

Isabella Garrucho Fine Art, CT

Insight Artspace Gallery, NY

InArt Gallery Santa Fe, NM

 

Other

Juror, Darien Alumni Art Show, 2021

Advisor, Darien Art Odyssey, 2018-21

Juror, Stamford Photography Club, 2019

Awards

2019 Worldwide Photography Gala Awards, 12 Annual Margaret Cameron Award, Professional Section, Landscapes and Seascapes

2018, CODA Worx Magazine feature Award, Transformative Walls and Living Form, Submerged Garden Series

2017, Winner American Art Awards, Manipulated Photography, juried by America's 25 Best Galleries & Museums

2014 DAC Honorable Mention, Juror Larissa Baliff, Museum of Modern Art

2013 Award of excellence, Art that Lifts our Spirits, Jill Conner, Art Critic/Curator

2012 Winner Greenwich Serendipity Magazine Award, 6 Jurors including Lee Milazzo, Samuel Owen Gallery

2011 Best in Show, Memory Maps, Juror Frank Poor, Newport Art Museum

2010 Best in Painting, Healing Power of Art, Juror - Joanie San Chirico, Founder of Professional Fine Art Network

2009 Best in Painting, Her Story, Juror - Janice Sands, Executive Director of Pen and Brush, NYC

2008 Award of Merit, Healing Power of Art, Juror - Edward Rubin, writer for Artnews and Contemporary Art

2007 Award for Outstanding Artistic Merit, Juror - Renee Phillips, Director, Manhattan Arts International