We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ramon Bonilla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ramon below.

Ramon , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

A meaningful project in terms of career growth is a 2016 mural that allowed me to get into mural work and commissions. It came about as a weekend opportunity to use a 6,000 sq ft gallery space between shows while the gallery space was empty. Despite a quick turnaround and a budget of less than $50, I jumped at the chance to finally work on a large-scale wall. I decided to use washi tape (tape made out of rice paper), a suggestion from my wife, for a fast and temporary installation. With no time to prepare, I improvised the design live in the gallery for a small audience. This was a new and off the cuff way of working for me. I knew I was taking a risk by working this way.

The final mural reflected my own geometric landscape art making approach and was successfully completed and removed on time. I was incredibly happy with it because eventually it opened so many doors for me. The first of many consecutive opportunities came from an art consulting and placemaking company that commissioned me to produce a similar but permanent project for one of their corporate clients. The project was a success and then I was commissioned to do another project for an energy company. And just like that I ended up completing 20 plus commissioned murals and placemaking projects over the years for clients such as Muros Chicago and Meow Wolf.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a visual artist, I create distinctive paintings that blend landscape imagery, structural design, and geometric abstraction. My artistic development is driven by a deep curiosity about how art interacts with and reshapes our perception of spaces. This exploration is intertwined with concepts of degrowth, environmentalism, science fiction, and metaphysical beliefs. My artworks aim to evoke profound contemplation and a sense of timelessness, prompting reflection on humanity’s longing for harmony and interconnectedness, and the transcendence of our actions. My personal views on responsible stewardship, ethical conduct, and a move away from purely materialistic worldviews encourage viewers to consider enduring questions about our existence, our relationship with the cosmos, and our vision for the future. This infuses my art with a sense of deep relevance and lasting significance. Visually, my creative inspiration stems from the starkness of brutalism, the simplicity of minimalism, and the digital aesthetic of low-poly art, which contribute to the clear forms and structural essence often found in my pieces.

Although I had been creating art since I was a child and was able to show my work before my college years; completing my art school education was what in fact propelled me into a professional career. While painting remains my main area of work, my practice has expanded into placemaking projects, including hand-made washi tape murals, large-scale digital design and printing of art for walls, and immersive room installations, sometimes incorporating reclaimed materials.

A key professional highlight for me is the installation titled “Aztec Camera”, a multimedia room environment that I completed for Meow Wolf Denver. Another notable project is the group show “Downshifting,” which I curated and coordinated all logistics needed to make the show happen including its installation. This was a successful international exhibition of 13 artists, working in reductive art, employing a “less-is-more” approach. The show comprised murals and smaller pieces, encompassing post-minimalism, geometric pattern painting, and some reflecting organic elements.

For those who commission or acquire my work—institutions, galleries, or individuals—my goal is to create art that resonates with the specific locale and its narrative. This involves transforming surfaces into focal points, offering new interpretations of familiar architectural forms or constructing immersive environments. My paintings, murals and installations offer opportunities for dynamic “art activations” or placemaking that stimulate conversation, raise brand awareness, and generate positive attention for a property throughout its lifespan providing a unique identity that benefits both the client’s vision and the site itself. By incorporating my art, clients enhance property marketability and desirability, and cultivate more inspiring and engaging environments, thereby contributing to a positive economic impact as well as to individual and communal well being.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

To foster a flourishing creative sector, society should adopt a comprehensive approach. This includes bolstering existing initiatives that offer artists grants, subsidies, fellowships, affordable live/work spaces, and income support, enabling them to create without financial strain. Complementary measures like tax breaks and incentives for creatives and their supporters, along with increased philanthropic contributions, are also crucial. Integrating arts appreciation into school curricula is essential to cultivate future patrons. Addressing unfair compensation and exploitation within the creative industries, and promoting collaborations between creatives and other fields, are vital steps.

Beyond these systemic changes, individuals can also play a significant role. Supporting creatives can be as simple as purchasing their work or services, even on a modest budget. For example instead of buying mass-produced art from places such as Home Goods or Ikea, art from emerging/students artists or designers can be approached at the same or similar price point from those stores. Commissioning creatives for specific projects, even functional items, is another valuable way to provide support. Additionally, you can show your support by following creatives on social media, sharing their work, spreading the word about them, visiting their websites, attending their events and offering encouraging feedback.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

As creatives, we are far more than mere producers; we are multifaceted entrepreneurs wearing a multitude of hats to bring our visions to life. Our practice demands the skills of a business owner, a financial manager, a marketer, a curator, a salesperson, a public relations specialist, a live speaker, an educator, a documentarian, a photographer and videographer, a studio manager, a project coordinator, a social media coordinator and website manager, a project installer and anything else that might be needed.

Every piece that is produced or service that is provided is the culmination of these diverse efforts, fueled by passion and countless hours of dedicated work. The value of our art extends far beyond the tangible final product. It encompasses the investment of time, skill, resources, and the sheer dedication required to navigate these varied roles.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ramon-bonilla.com
• Instagram: @studio_bonilla
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-montesi-a05aa1249?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Image Credits

All the photos were taken by Ramón Bonilla.