Donnamaria Bruton American, 1954-2012
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Donnamaria BrutonEnlightened, 2010-11acrylic and paper on board48 x 48 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonNot Twins but Sisters, 2010-11acrylic and paper on board48 x 48 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonUntitled Landscape III, 2010-11acrylic and paper on board72 x 72 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonConjugating Mary, 2010acrylic and paper on board36 x 36 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonIncident #8 Sue and Divorce, 2010acrylic and encaustic25.5 x 25.5 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonMeditations Undisturbed, 2010acrylic and collage on board36 x 36 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonR-Lily, 2010acrylic and paper on board36 x 36 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonLittle Peacock, 2009-10acrylic on board36 x 36 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonUntitled Landscape I, 2008-10acrylic and paper on board72 x 72 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonUntitled Landscape IV, 2008-10acrylic and paper on board72 x 72 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonPlate, 2008acrylic and paper on board36 x 36 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonThe Mercury Tree, 2007-8collage, acrylic on board36 x 36 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonMidnight Dawn, 2007acrylic and paper on board36 x 36 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonGold Frankencense and Myrrh, 2003-04collage, cheese cloth, gold leaf, stencil, pencil, gold string on board48 x 48 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonPrayers for the Innocent, Prayers for the Guilty, 2003-04mixed media on board72 x 72 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonSpirit Garden, 2003-04acrylic and paper on board72 x 72 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonHealing Source, 2002-06acrylic on board, collage, pencil72 x 72 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonBling, 2002100 bracelets with hand drawn cameo72 x 72 inches overall
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Donnamaria Bruton(Untitled), 2001mixed mediasize 24, 8 feet tall
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Donnamaria Bruton(Untitled), 2001mixed mediasize 24, 8 feet tall
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Donnamaria BrutonDressed to Kill, 2001comic book clippings on vellumsize 24, 8 feet tall
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Donnamaria BrutonChandelier, 1996-98mixed media on board48 x 47 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonCharcoal Drawings 1-5, 1995charcoal on paper7 x 7 inches each
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Donnamaria BrutonEdward's Memorial II, 1995acrylic and collage on board48 x 96 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonPersonalities are Portable, 1995acrylic on boardstacked diptych: 48 x 48 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonPersonalities are Portable (ladder), 1995mixed media24 x 48 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonCalculating Self, 1993paper collage, gold leaf, stencil, acrylic on board95 x 96 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonDay Words Dream Titles, 1992-93acrylic on masonite96 x 96 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonSepulcher, 1991acrylic on board96 x 96 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonSport 40 Interest, 1990acrylic on masonite96 x 96 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonStrong Soul Survivor, 1990acrylic on masonite96 x 96 inches
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Donnamaria BrutonTo share the Lamb's Cookies or to wear the Ram's Hornsacrylic and collage on board48 x 96 inches
Donnamaria Bruton's paintings are unique landscapes, built from the ground up. Layers and textures are added and concealed at the same moment. The overall impression is one of transcendental images that are recognizable such as a plant form, swirls of water, or tree limbs. The paintings express her continued interest in the surreal aspects of the visual world; however, they also capture an element of nature morte. Bruton's more recent large-scale work brings her paintings to life in a mythic combination of color, form and texture using materials such as paint, paper, stenciled lace, cotton, and glitter. Almost talisman-like in their demeanor, one can sense a beginning to a story or great adventure in the work.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Donnamaria Bruton grew up in Detroit, and graduated from Michigan State University in 1976 where she earned her BFA in Graphic Design. After graduation, Bruton continued her art career by studying art with her uncle, painter Edward Loper, Sr. in Wilmington, Delaware. During this time, Bruton often visited the collection of art in the famous Barnes Foundation to study the collection. Founded by Albert C. Barnes in 1922, the collection holds some of the most seminal works by Matisse, Cézanne, Renoir and Modigliani as well as important examples of African sculpture. Bruton's entree to the Barnes resulted in a lifelong reverence for the work of Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse and are among Bruton's greatest influences along with abstract painter Cy Twombly.
Bruton continued her education and earned an MFA from Yale University in Painting and Printmaking in 1991. Between her MSU education and Yale, Bruton exhibited with pioneering African American gallerist Dell Pryor in Detroit.
In 1993, she joined the Painting Department as Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. Donnamaria Bruton's work has been included in numerous one-person and group exhibitions throughout the United States, including an early solo exhibition at Woman and Their Work, Austin, Texas as well as exhibiting abroad in Canada, Japan, France and Korean Biennial. Donnamaria Bruton's work is in the permanent collection of the Black Studies Gallery, University of Texas, Austin, Newport Art Museum, RISD Museum, Yale University Art Gallery and many private collections.
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Paradise
Group Exhibition January 30 - March 31, 2021The entire world, as of late, feels like a state of suspended animation due to the pandemic. The pause and warping of time is deeply felt and has affected every...Read more -
Donnamaria Bruton: Part III, Sculptural Notions
February 17 - April 21, 2019We are pleased to show the final installment of works celebrating the life of artist Donnamaria Bruton. The works in the third exhibition are counterpoints to Bruton's work in drawing,...Read more -
Donnamaria Bruton Part II, The Later Years
November 3 - December 23, 2018We are pleased to announce back-to-back exhibitions celebrating the life's work of painter, printmaker and sculptor Donnamaria Bruton. In this second installment, Part II, The Later Years, the large-scale works...Read more -
Donnamaria Bruton: Part I, The Early Years
September 14 - October 27, 2018We are pleased to announce back-to-back exhibitions celebrating the life's work of painter, printmaker and sculptor Donnamaria Bruton. In the first installment, floor to ceiling paintings engulf and enliven the...Read more -
Estate of Donnamaria Bruton
September 10 - October 26, 2013Cade Tompkins Projects is pleased to announce an exhibition of work by Donnamaria Bruton (1954-2012) created between 1995 and 2012. Bruton's career spanned over 35 years, as a renowned painter...Read more
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Cade Tompkins Projects celebrates the opening of the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care
artdaily.com, artdaily.com, August 31, 2020 -
Donnamaria Bruton: Part II, The Later Years
Loren King, Art New England, November 3, 2018 -
Part memory, part dreamscape at exhibit of Donnamaria Bruton’s work
Bill Van Siclen, The Providence Journal, October 10, 2013 -
Donnamaria Bruton At Cade Tompkins Projects
Renee Doucette, ART ROGUE ISLAND, October 5, 2013 -
Donna Bruton, 1954–2012
our risd, September 12, 2012