| Chicago born artist Michael Bonfiglio is a self-taught painter. While studying at Illinois State University, Bonfiglio worked part-time as a figure model. Surrounded by artists and the creative process compelled Bonfiglio to create artwork of his own. He began to exhibit his work in 1992. Throughout the 1990s, Bonfiglio focused on the development of his colorful and dotted style of painting.
Over the years, Bonfiglio has garnered significant media coverage. Bonfiglio was interviewed live on the WGN News at Noon with a dotted doghouse he painted for the Anti-Cruelty Society. He has also appeared on FOX News in The Morning, and has been featured in the Chicago Tribune Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, ChicagoREADER, WHERE Chicago, Chicago Arts and Entertainment, and many more. From March 2001 to August 2004, Bonfiglio owned and operated Gallery Bonfiglio, Inc, located in Andersonville on Chicago's north side. The gallery served as both a studio and a showroom for the artist. As a way of engaging the community, Bonfiglio would often paint in the display window of the gallery. He enjoyed sharing the art making process with the neighborhood. While in Andersonville, Bonfiglio encouraged the local chamber of commerce to launch the first Andersonville Arts Weekend, which has now become an annual event. The City of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs acknowledged Bonfiglio's community involvement by featuring him and his gallery in the 2003 Chicago Artists' Month Program and Booklet. The award winning About Face Theatre selected Bonfiglio to be their, first ever, visual artist of the year during the 2003-04 season. The Aldo Castillo Gallery, of the River North Gallery District, recognized Bonfiglio as a Humanitarian artist in 2003. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Andersonville in June 2003. Bonfiglio met the Senator and gave her a small painting. A few weeks later, Bonfiglio received a thank you letter from Hillary, which referred to the painting as both "lovely" and "wonderful". Sharon Stone, actor and AIDS activist, met Bonfiglio when he presented a painting to her as she received a Humanitarian Award from the Global Conference Institute. The presentation was part of a World Health Conference, hosted at the University of Chicago, in April 2002. Later, the painting was displayed in the window of Lalique, on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, in honor of World AIDS Day. Stone and Bonfiglio went on to donate the piece to amfAR. Upcoming, Bonfiglio will be opening "Mary's Christmas" at the Gerber/Hart Library in Chicago on December 5th, 2004. The exhibit will be Bonfiglio's first installation piece, and a tribute to his late mother, Mary. The installation will consist of hundreds of dotted diapers, and a series of silk screened images of Mary that will be affixed to the diapers. The cremated remains of Mary will also be displayed. Bonfiglio's current focus is the promotion of WildDot.com, completing various commissioned projects and continuing to produce new innovative works of art. Bonfiglio's current focus is the promotion of WildDot.com, completing various commissioned projects and continuing to produce new innovative works of art. |