Karen Bonanno

Karen Bonanno’s In Dialogue is a conversation—between figures, between past and present, between the work and the viewer. These pieces hold moments of connection, of glances exchanged, of gestures that speak louder than words. In this new body of work, Bonanno literally builds upon her past, turning older paintings sideways or upside down, letting history remain visible beneath the surface. The figures, once locked in private dialogue with one another, now turn outward, inviting us in. Their forms are looser, freer, leaving space for the viewer to step into the conversation and bring their own meaning.

This shift is not just in composition, but in form. Moving beyond the canvas, Bonanno’s work extends into sculpture, where figures emerge into physical space, occupying it with the same quiet intensity found in her paintings. These sculptural pieces deepen the dialogue—gestural and tactile, they bring movement and weight to the themes of connection and presence. What was once confined to a sketchbook, intimate and unfinished, now expands into life-sized encounters. Through painting, drawing, and sculpture, In Dialogue explores the spaces between us—the moments of understanding, distance, memory, and presence. It asks us to pause, to listen, and to find ourselves within the exchange.