Bruno Casiano (b.1960)
Natural, 2022
Materials: Mixed media, 12" x 12"
Location: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Summa Health Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.)
Awarded the Acquisition Prize in the 2022 exhibition Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center, this piece was selected for its dynamic expression of memory, place, and artistic tradition.
About the Art and Artist
Bruno Casiano’s Natural offers a vibrant meditation on the landscapes of his childhood in Puerto Rico. Dense foliage, intertwining limbs and vines, and the rich textures of the tropics are distilled into a compact, layered composition—an island within the canvas. Floating against a warm, neutral background, these elements evoke the artist’s recollections of mountains, mangos, ceiba trees, and caves, all encircled by the ever-present sea.
Casiano’s background in screen printing informs his technique, evident in the bold, graphic delineation of color fields and the built-up layers that lend the piece a tactile, three-dimensional quality. Rather than relying on literal representation, the artist creates an immersive experience through abstracted forms and a non-traditional color palette. The rhythmic movement of organic shapes and the contrast between fluid gestures and structured outlines capture the energy and life force of the natural world as remembered through the eyes of a child.
Born in Gary, Indiana, Casiano spent his formative years in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, where he developed a deep connection to the environment. His academic journey took him from the School of Plastic Arts in San Juan to Parsons School of Design/Altos de Chavón, and later to the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he earned a B.F.A. in Illustration. Influenced by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, and Arnaldo Roche Rabell, Casiano has developed a distinct visual language that bridges abstraction and personal narrative.
Where to See More of This Artist's Works
Casiano’s work has been featured in commissions for the Cleveland and Fort Wayne Museums of Art, among others. His recent solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland further explores his artistic vision. To learn more, visit the artist’s website.