Bonnie Palutke

Bonnie is an abstract expressionist painter working principally in acrylics, graphite pencil and gloss medium.    She studied fine arts at Wayne State University and University of Michigan.   She founded "Small and Elegant Hotels", marketing and booking accommodations in 20 European cities for more than 15 years.  This provided her with the opportunity to visit and study at countless museums and galleries.   When Bonnie retired ten years ago, she went back to painting, sharpening and redefining her skills at Kendall School of Art & Design. She has been influenced by the abstract greats, including Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, and Grace Hartigan.  

She loves painting with a very loose brush, speed and execution with paint that is malleable and flexible, whether thick or thin, washed or dripped, with a lively pencil line that manipulates shape and form creating richness and energy.    Bonnie is obsessed with color and value and absolutely adores mixing brilliant hues.  Her exploration of art consists quite simply of figurative applications, a love of urban and plein-air landscapes through abstract expressionism .

Her work has been recognized at the Michigan Regional exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art, winning the Collectors Award in 2018.  (The Muskegon work was purchased by the Collectors Guild of the Museum of Art.)  She has exhibited at the Lowell Arts Gallery Art Exhibition in 2018, 2019, 2021. In Art Prize 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023, in Grand Rapids, MI.   Her work has also been at the Lansing Arts Gallery Holiday Exhibit 2019,2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Bonnie  is married and resides in downtown Grand Rapids with her husband, Wally. 

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