Forever Spring: An Exhibition by Gary Bukovnik
On display through early November 2021.
In addition to the sprawling acres of gardens and woodlands, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden features rotating art exhibitions in the new Welcome Center. Art lovers and garden lovers alike will find something to behold as you begin your visit surrounded by beautiful artwork and floor to ceiling views of serene woodlands.
As of July 19, the work of Gary Bukovnik will be featured in the gallery hall.
Gary Bukovnik’s paintings have been exhibited in galleries all across the United States and abroad, including Japan, Slovenia, China, Australia, Spain and more.
Locally, in Pittsburgh, Gary’s work is part of the permanent collection in both the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon University. Between 1984 and 2006, the Concept Art Gallery exhibited his paintings.
In Forever Spring, you will witness the result of years of experimentation harnessing the wonder of the flower and expressing it with visual acuity and intuitive botanical accuracy. This show, as with the entirety of his works, are the result of relentless pursuit of the path fate had chosen for him. For years he was discouraged from following this path, but through perseverance and a little support from friends and family, he has revealed the true source of life in art: the kindness of others.
His large-scale watercolor paintings depict vibrant floral arrangements, sourced and painted from real life. Bukovnik grew up in rural Ohio, where his grandmother owned a general store near commercial nursery land. This immersion in the world of plants and flowers sparked a lifelong interest in the natural beauty derived from the world around him. In this case, the subject matter chose the artist, not the other way around.
Bukovnik’s art conveys a monumental quality primarily using the mediums of watercolor, monotype and lithograph. Fusing sensual vitality with fluid yet powerful colorations, creating floral images of great depth and intensity. To this day he paints from live reference, taking in the majesty of an arrangement and transmuting that onto paper.
Gary’s artistic journey has stretched far and wide. He has lived in San Francisco for more than 45 years, and he’s had the opportunity to exhibit and lecture in many countries. From Europe to Asia, including Japan, Taiwan and China, Gary’s work has made a lasting impact. In 2004 and 2005, he was Artist-in-Residence at the American Academy in Rome. In 2010, he served in the same capacity at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts in Michigan.
An Evening with Gary Bukovnik & Watercolor Master Class
In addition to the exhibition on display through early November, Gary will be at the Garden in early September to unveil a piece of artwork that he is contributing to the Garden’s permanent collection. Gary also will be teaching a workshop at the Garden – an excellent opportunity to learn from an internationally recognized artist and create a work of art you will cherish for a lifetime.
Join us for an evening of art and food on Thursday, September 9, to meet Gary and see the piece he painted exclusively for Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.
The Cocktail reception begins at 6:30 pm, followed by an artful dinner in the Peirce Education Rooms and Courtyard Garden. Presented by Black Radish Kitchen, the menu will delight your eye and palate. Click here for details
In addition, Gary will conduct a Master Class for watercolor painting on September 10. Inside tips, unique techniques and an insightful discussion of his process will be peppered throughout in a fun, chatty atmosphere. Click here for details