Francisco Javier González Bonilla was born in 1985 in Málaga, Spain, home to many great artists including the very influential Pablo Ruiz Picasso. Francisco was born into a family of artists; his father, a carpenter and his mother, a painter. So it was at a very young age that Francisco began to show interest in the visual arts.
In his last two years of high school, Francisco was able to choose his specialization in Artistic Studies, known in Spain as “Bachillerato Artistico”. Once he graduated, the artist enrolled in, and ultimately earned his degree from, one of the most prestigious art programs in Spain, the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Granada. During his time there, Francisco investigated many diverse fields in art; among them were sculpture, drawing, painting, photography, etching and engraving, animation, and video creation.
In his fourth year of university, Francisco was awarded a scholarship to study abroad in the Accademia Ligustica di Belli Arti in Genoa, Italy. It was there, in the home of anatomical study and stone sculpture, that the artist was first exposed to the process of engraving and imprinting. Francisco delved into this exciting artistic discipline, studying techniques such as xylography (or woodcut) and lithography. The artist continues to regard his time in Italy as invaluable due to the country’s unique wealth in artwork, as well as the contacts he made with other fellow artists.
Upon his return to Spain, Francisco concluded his university studies with a final project about new engraving techniques, such as lithography on polyester and photoengraving.
Francisco returned to his roots and began working in the Museo Picasso Málaga where he contemplated and studied the works of art created by Picasso and many other artists. This daily exposure to such important pieces of artwork led Francisco to reflect on his own work and continues to play a role in his development as an artist.
In 2014, Francisco moved to Long Island, New York where he continues to live and work on his art. He is delighted to share his passion for art and education through a variety of programs for both adults and children.
Francisco Bonilla considers the creative process to be a synthesis of teaching and learning. It is a combination of internal inspiration and external influences that allows an artist like himself to continuously develop, create and reinvent his work.
Curriculum
Degree in Fine Arts (2004-2009). Faculty of Fine Arts Alonso Cano, University of Granada, Spain.
Erasmus Grant (2007-2008). Accademia Ligustica di Belli Arti, Genoa, Italy.
Master Degree in Fine Arts (2008-2009). Faculty of Fine Arts Alonso Cano, University of Granada, Spain.
Master in Compulsory Secondary Education, “Bachillerato” (Upper-level non-compulsory secondary education in Spain), Vocational Training, and Language Education (2009-2010). University of Granada, Spain.
Exhibits
Granada University, Visual Arts Faculty Group Exhibition, Spain (2007).
Accademia Ligustica Di Belle Arti, Group Exhibition, Genova, Italy (2008).
Ayuntamiento de Velez Malaga, Art in the Hall Solo Exhibition, Velez Malaga, Spain (2011).
Cover of Modernicolas December 2012 Online Cultural Magazine, Malaga Spain (2012).
Art in the Hall, Hispanic Heritage Month, Islip Town Hall, New York (2015).
Art Space, Harmony Exhibition, Patchogue, New York (2016).
Brookhaven Town Hall, Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibit by Of Colors a Creative Collective, New York (2016).
Brookhaven Town Hall, Black History Month Exhibit by Of Colors a Creative Collective, New York (2016).