Erica Bonavida Art

Description:

My journey into the arts began unexpectedly. As a high school student, I never saw myself as creative and even tried to drop a required art class. Thankfully, I lost that battle. That single experience sparked a love for painting that quickly grew into a calling. I went on to earn degrees in Studio Art and French from the University of Central Oklahoma, and was honored to serve as Oklahoma City’s first Artist in Residence. My work has since been exhibited at the Oklahoma State Capitol and in galleries and festivals throughout the Midwest.
Today, I live and work in Chandler, OK where rural life deeply informs both my days and my paintings. My work is rooted in a quiet reverence for the natural world and the landscapes of Oklahoma that shape my sense of place. I am drawn to fleeting moments of glowing grasses, dramatic skies, and stillness in everyday life, I paint as an act of preservation. I honor beauty that might otherwise pass unnoticed. Working on natural wood panels, my process is highly detailed and time-intensive, inviting viewers into a shared pause of calm, wonder, and contemplation. When I’m not in the studio, I’m gardening, running a small farmstand, and observing the rhythms of the land. I am always observing, always creating, and continually inspired by the quiet poetry of the world around me.

Product Images:

Certifications & Awards

Oklahoma City's first Artist in Residence