Serena Bocchino is an American Contemporary abstract artist working in the realm of painting, sculpture, and installation. Her expressionistic, methodical style displays a variety of influences, from Abstract Expressionism and modern dance to jazz music and the experimental Fluxus movement. Like her varied influences, her process is highly improvisational yet technically informed: It is a visual language created through an intermingled vocabulary of color, media, and technique. Bocchino’s studio practice is focused on the investigation and intersection of visual art and music.
Her professional practice began in New York City’s East Village movement in the 1980s after graduating from New York University. She has won awards from the Pollock Krasner Foundation, Artists Space, The Basil Alkazzi Foundation USA, and International Residencies at both PS1/MoMA and ESKFF at MANA Contemporary. Bocchino has been awarded Grants from the NJ State Council on the Arts, in both Drawing and Painting. Furthermore, she has had over 50 solo exhibitions and has been recognized with awards by over 20 institutions. Bocchino’s work can be found in public, museum, and private collections.
Bocchino’s work is characterized by its unique blend of movement, color, and texture. Her “Motion Series” is a prime example of this, with each canvas emphasizing movement in terms of brushwork and poured paint. The series begins with collage elements which, through imaginatively chosen strokes and colors, transmogrify into each original composition. From rectangular canvases to tondos, the motion created within each canvas is continual. The collage elements begin the methodology of this series; consequently, Bocchino is able to maintain singular elements of movement and flow throughout her image paintings and abstract work.
One of her notable pieces, “Stardust,” created in 2023 from the motion series, is a captivating work that showcases her unique approach to abstract art. This piece, created with enamel paint, graphite, collaged elements, and hand-applied gold leaf on canvas, measures 52 x 72 inches. It’s a stunning example of how Bocchino combines various techniques and materials to create visually striking compositions that engage the viewer’s senses and emotions.
Bocchino’s work has a sense of movement and energy that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Her ability to blend different influences and techniques into her art creates a dynamic and engaging experience for the viewer.
