New Feature Exhibition Opens in May April 12 2022
BOKAS BLOOMS:
Grown in Trying Times
May 7- 27, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 7, 4-7 PM
Artists Talk: Friday, May 27, 11 AM
Image: Victor Bokas, Happy Beautiful Day, acrylic on canvas, 36x36 inches
About the Exhibition
Victor Bokas is known for his joyful abstract paintings that are full of vibrant colors and expressive lines. For this, his second solo exhibition at Arts on Douglas, he has created a bold new collection of floral-inspired acrylic paintings.
The act of painting has always been therapeutic for Bokas, allowing time for reflection, meditation, and creativity. As such, during the pandemic, he sought refuge in the comfort of his studio, where he planted the seeds for this body of work to emerge. In his artist statement, Bokas elaborates, “It relaxes my mind to paint flowers during these trying times. This theme has allowed me to blossom – to be expressive and experimental as I create my own floral arrangements with paint. Through this process, my emotions of joy, sadness, anger, beauty, happiness, and surprise are all released onto the canvas.”
Each piece in Bokas’s exhibition has its own unique qualities and characteristics, while still reflecting his signature style and energetic brushwork. For added interest, an installation of birdcages bursting with found objects and artificial flowers adorn the exhibition space. Bokas states, “I wanted to create my own garden where I can enjoy bold and bright colors, busy patterns, and expressive mark-making. I also explored working on larger canvases for this show, which allowed me to paint looser, with more spontaneity and energy.”
Through this body of work, Bokas also reflects on the universal appeal of flowers as a symbol of both life’s beauty and its fragility. Bokas notes, “Flowers are accepted gifts during times of both celebration and mourning, but they do not last. A painting of flowers, however, will last a lifetime and it is my hope that these paintings add joy, happiness, and color to your life, and the life of those you love.”
About the Artist
Victor grew up against a backdrop of palm trees, beautiful beaches, and sunbathers in the Florida Panhandle. These influences surface in his paintings through vibrant colors, tropical icons, and a good measure of whimsy. In many of his pieces, he pays homage to his Greek heritage and often incorporates Classical statues, vases, columns, and other images associated with Greece into his contemporary work.
His list of accomplishments includes a 15-foot x 85-foot mosaic floor for Orlando International Airport’s “A” Terminal, which was designed by Victor and installed by Italian masters of natural stone and glazed enamel. Most recently, he designed a wall installation for Orlando International Airport “C” Terminal. Victor’s career history includes 9 years as Senior Art Director for Sea World and 20 years as Senior Art Director for Tupperware Brands.
Victor has had numerous solo exhibitions and has work in permanent collections across the U.S., including Orlando International Airport, Mennello Museum of American Art, Darden Corporation, Tupperware Brands, City National Bank, Orange County Convention Center, Winter Park Library, Pensacola State College, Container Corporation of America, Maitland Art Center, Orlando City Hall, and Walt Disney Productions. He was the Featured Poster Artist for the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in 2020 and 2021.
