Shirley Bavonese Bio

I am an artist. I paint landscapes, florals and abstracts. I received my undergraduate degree from Wayne State University and my Master’s degree from the University of Michigan. I met my husband Joe in Michigan and we have three adult children. We decided to move to Asheville for our retirement drawn by the natural beauty of the mountains and the vibrant art environment.  

Artist Statement – Shirley Bavonese

In my past career as a therapist and owner of a large clinic, I found that most health clinics were painted a lifeless, drab beige or white. I shocked our landlords by always choosing bright, vibrant colors – violets and grass greens – for all of our walls, to the delight of our clients and staff.  Soon all of our offices were adorned with my landscape, abstract and floral paintings – which created a warm, soothing environment to aid in the therapeutic process. In fact, many clients revealed to their therapist how the paintings helped them feel safe to open up.

Now that I’m a full-time artist in Asheville, I focus on the use of vibrant color to elicit joy and aliveness in the viewer. My desire now is to bring that same joy and aliveness into people’s homes. As human beings our spirits need a daily dose of colorful light.