BONITA HELMER
Lives and works in Los Angeles
EDUCATION
Graduate Work, Otis Art Institute, CA 1978
Additional Studies with Francoise Gilot
BFA in Painting, UCLA and Antioch University
MUSEUM AND PUBLIC SPACES (solo and group shows)
2019 Jerusalem Biennial, "For Heaven’s Sake” Jerusalem, Israel
2017 Museum Sonderjylland “Far Out” BRUNDLUND SLOT, Denmark
2014 MOCA Beijing, "The Form of the Formless," Beijing, China
2014 Fisher Museum, solo Installation for performance piece,”This and my Heart” – Emily Dickenson, University of Southern California
2013 The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall, “The Spiritual in Art”
2012 MOLAA (Museum of Latin American Art.), Long Beach, CA
2012 Teda Contemporary Art Museum. Tianjin, China
2011 Or’Hatorah Cultural Center, Solo exhibition, “The Four Worlds” Los Angeles, CA
2009 Zimmer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Skirball Museum and Cultural Center, Video Installation 15 artists participating, Los Angeles,Ca
2009 Cal State Channel Islands “The Non-Objective Object” with Ruth Pastine and Jack Reilly
2007 MOCA, Whack exhibit, official Adjunct show, featured artist, Beyond Words and Time, UCLA New School of Phychoanlysis.
2007 NYU Hebrew Union College Museum, The LA Story, with Ruth Weisberg and Tony Berlant, NY
2006 Zimmer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
1999 UCLA/Hammer Museum, Solo Painting Installation at Murdoch Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
1996 Musee de L’Space Bateau Lavoir, L’Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, Solo exhibition “Artiste De Los Angeles, Paris, France
1989 Downey Art Museum: ”Women Artists who are Mothers”, Downey, CA
1985 Newport Harbor Art Museum (presently- Orange County Museum of Art) Director Paul Schimmel, “The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, sets for Performance piece.
ADDITIONAL SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2121 Changes in Velocity, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca
2018-19 “In the Midst of Chaos, George Billis, Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2015-16 Observed, George Billis Galley, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Dune Gallery, New York Design Center, NY
2012 Here be Dragons, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2010 The Unseen Structure, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2009 UCLA, Dortort Center for the Arts, Hillel, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Mt. St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA
2008 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2000 Transamerica Building, curated by Patrick Ela - Los Angeles, CA
El Camino College, Center for the Performing Arts, El Camino, CA
1997 Vorpal Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1995 New Work, Vorpal Gallery, San Francisco, Ca
1991 Ojai Valley Music Festival, exhibit and festival poster design, catalogue by Nancy Doll , Curator Santa Barbara Art museu
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 “Urban Paradise, Shatto Gallery, Los Angeles
2019 "For Heaven's Sake", Jerusalem Biennial, Jerusalem, Israel
2019 "Event Horizon", McMish Gallery Oxnard College, curated by Mela Marsh
2019 "I Am Nature," The Loft at Liz's, LA
2018 FOCA (friends of contemporary Art) “Carbon” China town, Los Angeles, CA
2018 “L.A. meets Shanghai in Berlin,” Kunstraum F200, Philip Johnston Berlin, Germany
2017 A Women’s Perspective, MRG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2017 “Fiction” Christoph Damm Art Room, Berlin, Germany
2017 “Far Out” Gallerie Nexus, Denmark
2016-17 RaumZeit (Spacetime), Kunstraum F200 galerie, Philip Johnston Bl. Berlin
2012 Hebrew Union College, USC, Los Angeles, CA
2010 City of Los Angeles Gallery at Barnsdall Actions, Conversations, and Intersections, participating artist
2008 Contemplations, Mt. St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles
2008 Art Matters, Contemporary Gallery, Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
2004 Track 16, “The Hollywood Bowl Spheres,” Bergamot Station, Santa Monica
2003 Jewish Federation Building, with Helen Frankenthaler, Larry Rivers, Stanley Boxer curated by Nancy Berman, Director Emeritus, Skirball Museum,
1993 Artists Books, Municipal Gallery, Barnsdall, curated by J. Dallal and L Kasmer, Los Angeles
1993 California State University Northridge, School of Fine Art, Northridge, CA
1992 Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1990 Momentum Gallery, Ventura Arts Council, Ventura CA
1990 Pence Gallery,”Art and Soul”, Santa Monica, CA
1988 Vorpal Gallery, group show with Andy Warhol, Wayne Thiebaud et al., San Francisco, CA
1987 Seven LA Artists, Gallery Q, Tokyo
1986 Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York
GRANTS
NEA grant for set design, “This and My Heart”, Emily Dickenson, 2009
18th Street Arts Complex and Getty grant, “Art in the Middle Schools,” 1999
City of Los Angeles Dept. of Cultural Affairs, “Children at Risk,” 1995
California Arts Council and L.A. Theater Works, “Children in Prison,”1992,93
California Arts Council and Ojai Valley Art Center, 1990
MULTIMEDIA AND SITE SPECIFIC INSTALLATIONS
2009 “This and My Heart,” Emily Dickenson, set paintings for performance piece, The Beach House , Dept. of Cultural Affairs, City of Santa Monica) and Cal Plaza (grand performances), CA
2000 El Camino College, Center for the Performing Arts, set paintings for “The Stage, The Street, The Spirit, El Comino, Ca.
2007 Home of Barbara Zacky and Ellen Sturtz, Malibu, Commission, CA
2006 Sylvee Terree,Yoga Studio Commission, St. Barths, French West Indies
2000 Office of Rabbi Steven Robbins. Commission Painting, Los Angeles, CA
1998 Japan-America Theater, Set Paintings for “the XTC of St. Teresa, New Age Opera” co-produced by Cal Arts and Cal State Fullerton. Los Angeles, CA
1993/1994 Homesite, traveling exhibition, Project by J. Dallal and L. Kasmer, funded in part by City Of Los Angeles, Dept. of Cultural Affairs
CURATORIAL WORK
Curator, Mobius 2, Otis College of Art and South Gallery, Los Angeles, 2010
Curator, Evolution: The Process of Abstraction, Eight LA Artists, Otis College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2004Fringe Festival, CARS, California Art Resources Services, Artists Curating Artists, Spring Street, part of the L. A. Festival, curated by Peter Sellers, 1990
TEACHING
Otis College of Art and Design, Faculty Instructor - Los Angeles. 1998-2018
18th St. Arts Complex, L.A. Middle Schools. 1998
Children at Risk, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs & L.A. Theater Works, Los Angeles. 1995
Children in Prison, LA Theater Works/California Arts Council, Los Angeles, CA1993-1995
SPARC, Painting Workshop, Venice, CA 1992
U.C.L.A., Extension, Los Angeles, CA 1989/1990
PUBLICATIONS
Carbon Allotropes: Visceral & Ethereal, An Artist’s Response, Wall Street Journal International, 2019
Art and Cake, featured article by Gary Brewer 2018
Voyage L.A., featured article, 2018
Palm Beach Women, featured article, 2017
Art Ltd. Review “Observed” Megan Abrahams, 2016
ArtWeek L.A. featured article , Shayna Nys Dambrot,2015
Extroadinart, featured article, Milan, Italy, 2014
Huffington Post, featured article, Tracey Harnish, 2012
ArtWeek.LA, featured article, 2012
ArtScene, featured artist review by Marlena Donahue, 2008
Art in America, American Artists, 2007
Mosaique (in French), 2007
Catalogue Essay, George Billis Gallery. Marlena Donahue, 2006
Metro L.A, Lauren Michelle 2006
Curatorial Statement, Patrick Ela - Los Angeles. 2001
Los Angeles Times, Art Upended, 1996
Al-Ahram International – (in French and Arabic) Paris, France. 1996
rt in America, American Artists. 1993
Art in America, American Artists. 1992
Los Angeles Times, L.A. Festival. 1991
California Art Review, American References, page 550, 553 & 555, 1989
Marouchi Times, Tokyo, Japan. 1986
Art Now/ California Gallery Guide, page 12, Feb. 1985
Los Angeles Times Calendar Section, front page, September 18, 1984
Arizona Sun Times, Art Section, page 1, November 12, 1982
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Morgan Stanley, New York
Sylvee Terree, Yoga Studio, St. Bart’s, French West Indies
ComDev. Corporation – El Segundo
The Offices of Reed Smith and Assoc. - Los Angeles, CA
MODAC (Museum of Designers and Creators) - Los Angeles
The Law Offices of Weissman, Wolf and Associates - Beverly Hills
The Law Offices of Hufstedler, Miller, Carlson and Beardsley
Law offices of Andrew Pollet - Los Angeles
Lives and works in Los Angeles
EDUCATION
Graduate Work, Otis Art Institute, CA 1978
Additional Studies with Francoise Gilot
BFA in Painting, UCLA and Antioch University
MUSEUM AND PUBLIC SPACES (solo and group shows)
2019 Jerusalem Biennial, "For Heaven’s Sake” Jerusalem, Israel
2017 Museum Sonderjylland “Far Out” BRUNDLUND SLOT, Denmark
2014 MOCA Beijing, "The Form of the Formless," Beijing, China
2014 Fisher Museum, solo Installation for performance piece,”This and my Heart” – Emily Dickenson, University of Southern California
2013 The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall, “The Spiritual in Art”
2012 MOLAA (Museum of Latin American Art.), Long Beach, CA
2012 Teda Contemporary Art Museum. Tianjin, China
2011 Or’Hatorah Cultural Center, Solo exhibition, “The Four Worlds” Los Angeles, CA
2009 Zimmer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Skirball Museum and Cultural Center, Video Installation 15 artists participating, Los Angeles,Ca
2009 Cal State Channel Islands “The Non-Objective Object” with Ruth Pastine and Jack Reilly
2007 MOCA, Whack exhibit, official Adjunct show, featured artist, Beyond Words and Time, UCLA New School of Phychoanlysis.
2007 NYU Hebrew Union College Museum, The LA Story, with Ruth Weisberg and Tony Berlant, NY
2006 Zimmer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
1999 UCLA/Hammer Museum, Solo Painting Installation at Murdoch Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
1996 Musee de L’Space Bateau Lavoir, L’Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, Solo exhibition “Artiste De Los Angeles, Paris, France
1989 Downey Art Museum: ”Women Artists who are Mothers”, Downey, CA
1985 Newport Harbor Art Museum (presently- Orange County Museum of Art) Director Paul Schimmel, “The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, sets for Performance piece.
ADDITIONAL SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2121 Changes in Velocity, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca
2018-19 “In the Midst of Chaos, George Billis, Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2015-16 Observed, George Billis Galley, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Dune Gallery, New York Design Center, NY
2012 Here be Dragons, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2010 The Unseen Structure, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2009 UCLA, Dortort Center for the Arts, Hillel, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Mt. St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA
2008 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2000 Transamerica Building, curated by Patrick Ela - Los Angeles, CA
El Camino College, Center for the Performing Arts, El Camino, CA
1997 Vorpal Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1995 New Work, Vorpal Gallery, San Francisco, Ca
1991 Ojai Valley Music Festival, exhibit and festival poster design, catalogue by Nancy Doll , Curator Santa Barbara Art museu
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 “Urban Paradise, Shatto Gallery, Los Angeles
2019 "For Heaven's Sake", Jerusalem Biennial, Jerusalem, Israel
2019 "Event Horizon", McMish Gallery Oxnard College, curated by Mela Marsh
2019 "I Am Nature," The Loft at Liz's, LA
2018 FOCA (friends of contemporary Art) “Carbon” China town, Los Angeles, CA
2018 “L.A. meets Shanghai in Berlin,” Kunstraum F200, Philip Johnston Berlin, Germany
2017 A Women’s Perspective, MRG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2017 “Fiction” Christoph Damm Art Room, Berlin, Germany
2017 “Far Out” Gallerie Nexus, Denmark
2016-17 RaumZeit (Spacetime), Kunstraum F200 galerie, Philip Johnston Bl. Berlin
2012 Hebrew Union College, USC, Los Angeles, CA
2010 City of Los Angeles Gallery at Barnsdall Actions, Conversations, and Intersections, participating artist
2008 Contemplations, Mt. St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles
2008 Art Matters, Contemporary Gallery, Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
2004 Track 16, “The Hollywood Bowl Spheres,” Bergamot Station, Santa Monica
2003 Jewish Federation Building, with Helen Frankenthaler, Larry Rivers, Stanley Boxer curated by Nancy Berman, Director Emeritus, Skirball Museum,
1993 Artists Books, Municipal Gallery, Barnsdall, curated by J. Dallal and L Kasmer, Los Angeles
1993 California State University Northridge, School of Fine Art, Northridge, CA
1992 Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1990 Momentum Gallery, Ventura Arts Council, Ventura CA
1990 Pence Gallery,”Art and Soul”, Santa Monica, CA
1988 Vorpal Gallery, group show with Andy Warhol, Wayne Thiebaud et al., San Francisco, CA
1987 Seven LA Artists, Gallery Q, Tokyo
1986 Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York
GRANTS
NEA grant for set design, “This and My Heart”, Emily Dickenson, 2009
18th Street Arts Complex and Getty grant, “Art in the Middle Schools,” 1999
City of Los Angeles Dept. of Cultural Affairs, “Children at Risk,” 1995
California Arts Council and L.A. Theater Works, “Children in Prison,”1992,93
California Arts Council and Ojai Valley Art Center, 1990
MULTIMEDIA AND SITE SPECIFIC INSTALLATIONS
2009 “This and My Heart,” Emily Dickenson, set paintings for performance piece, The Beach House , Dept. of Cultural Affairs, City of Santa Monica) and Cal Plaza (grand performances), CA
2000 El Camino College, Center for the Performing Arts, set paintings for “The Stage, The Street, The Spirit, El Comino, Ca.
2007 Home of Barbara Zacky and Ellen Sturtz, Malibu, Commission, CA
2006 Sylvee Terree,Yoga Studio Commission, St. Barths, French West Indies
2000 Office of Rabbi Steven Robbins. Commission Painting, Los Angeles, CA
1998 Japan-America Theater, Set Paintings for “the XTC of St. Teresa, New Age Opera” co-produced by Cal Arts and Cal State Fullerton. Los Angeles, CA
1993/1994 Homesite, traveling exhibition, Project by J. Dallal and L. Kasmer, funded in part by City Of Los Angeles, Dept. of Cultural Affairs
CURATORIAL WORK
Curator, Mobius 2, Otis College of Art and South Gallery, Los Angeles, 2010
Curator, Evolution: The Process of Abstraction, Eight LA Artists, Otis College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2004Fringe Festival, CARS, California Art Resources Services, Artists Curating Artists, Spring Street, part of the L. A. Festival, curated by Peter Sellers, 1990
TEACHING
Otis College of Art and Design, Faculty Instructor - Los Angeles. 1998-2018
18th St. Arts Complex, L.A. Middle Schools. 1998
Children at Risk, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs & L.A. Theater Works, Los Angeles. 1995
Children in Prison, LA Theater Works/California Arts Council, Los Angeles, CA1993-1995
SPARC, Painting Workshop, Venice, CA 1992
U.C.L.A., Extension, Los Angeles, CA 1989/1990
PUBLICATIONS
Carbon Allotropes: Visceral & Ethereal, An Artist’s Response, Wall Street Journal International, 2019
Art and Cake, featured article by Gary Brewer 2018
Voyage L.A., featured article, 2018
Palm Beach Women, featured article, 2017
Art Ltd. Review “Observed” Megan Abrahams, 2016
ArtWeek L.A. featured article , Shayna Nys Dambrot,2015
Extroadinart, featured article, Milan, Italy, 2014
Huffington Post, featured article, Tracey Harnish, 2012
ArtWeek.LA, featured article, 2012
ArtScene, featured artist review by Marlena Donahue, 2008
Art in America, American Artists, 2007
Mosaique (in French), 2007
Catalogue Essay, George Billis Gallery. Marlena Donahue, 2006
Metro L.A, Lauren Michelle 2006
Curatorial Statement, Patrick Ela - Los Angeles. 2001
Los Angeles Times, Art Upended, 1996
Al-Ahram International – (in French and Arabic) Paris, France. 1996
rt in America, American Artists. 1993
Art in America, American Artists. 1992
Los Angeles Times, L.A. Festival. 1991
California Art Review, American References, page 550, 553 & 555, 1989
Marouchi Times, Tokyo, Japan. 1986
Art Now/ California Gallery Guide, page 12, Feb. 1985
Los Angeles Times Calendar Section, front page, September 18, 1984
Arizona Sun Times, Art Section, page 1, November 12, 1982
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Morgan Stanley, New York
Sylvee Terree, Yoga Studio, St. Bart’s, French West Indies
ComDev. Corporation – El Segundo
The Offices of Reed Smith and Assoc. - Los Angeles, CA
MODAC (Museum of Designers and Creators) - Los Angeles
The Law Offices of Weissman, Wolf and Associates - Beverly Hills
The Law Offices of Hufstedler, Miller, Carlson and Beardsley
Law offices of Andrew Pollet - Los Angeles
