Works
Overview

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.

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Biography

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Donnamaria Bruton 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 in Wilmington, Delaware.  During this time,  Bruton became aware of the collection of art in the famous Barnes Foundation then located outside of Philadelphia.  The collection, founded by Albert C. Barnes in 1922 holds some of the most seminal works by Matisse, Cézanne, Renoir and Modigliani as well as important examples of African sculpture.

 

Bruton continued her education and earned an MFA from Yale University in Painting 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 as well as Canada, Japan, France and Korea.

Download Artist's CV (PDF, opens in a new tab.)
Exhibitions
Video
Press