Gary Bukovnik
Camellia I, Camellia II, Camellia III
Materials: Watercolor on Arches paper, 22 ½ x 15 inches each, 2021
Location: Akron City Hospital, Ground Floor, Green Neighborhood, near N Elevator
About the Art
In Camellia I, II, and III, Gary Bukovnik captures the essence of nature through an intuitive and deeply personal creative process. Each piece begins with the artist’s quiet exploration, often at the San Francisco Flower Market or, in this case, with clippings lovingly gathered from a friend’s garden. Wrapped simply in newspaper and protected by damp paper towels and plastic, these flowers arrived not just as botanical subjects but as meaningful gifts.
Bukovnik begins by observing the flowers in a vase, drawing them from life while studying their form from various angles. Once the initial sketches are complete, he steps away from the physical reference and allows memory and emotional resonance to guide his application of color. This thoughtful pause, whether for days or weeks, frees the artist from the pressure of imitation. What results is not a photographic likeness but a true portrait, both of the flower and of the artist’s connection to it.
In healthcare settings like Summa Health, Bukovnik’s work resonates with the restorative qualities of nature and the emotional connections that bring comfort and beauty into our lives. These vivid watercolors celebrate both the fleeting grace of the natural world and the lasting impact of human connection, an approach that reflects Summa’s commitment to creating healing environments that support the whole person.
About the Artist
Born and educated in Cleveland, Gary Bukovnik has lived in San Francisco for more than a third of a century. Working primarily in watercolor, monotype, and lithograph, his art is known for its vitality and powerful use of color. His floral and culinary subjects are rendered with exceptional depth, intensity, and scale.
Bukovnik has held artist residencies at the American Academy in Rome in 2003 and 2005 and at the Michigan Institute of Arts in Kalamazoo in 2010. That same year, he toured Japan with a series of exhibitions and watercolor demonstrations.
His solo exhibitions include shows at Caldwell Snyder Gallery in San Francisco and St. Helena, Campton Gallery in New York City, Concept Gallery in Pittsburgh, A.C.T. Gallery in San Francisco, and Bonfoey Gallery in Cleveland. He has also exhibited at institutions such as the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon University, and the Brevard Museum of Art in Florida, as well as internationally in Tokyo, Taipei, and Luxembourg.