Ilona's work
has been exhibited, sold and featured throughout
the United States over the years as well as many
private collections and commissions.
Ilona's formal Art studies over the past 20 years have taken her on a journey through Drawing, Painting, Lithography, Stained Glass Design and Construction, Woodworking, Creative Design, 3D Design, Mosaic and Collage, Her unique ability to self-teach, have ALL influenced her art today.
But it was after taking a stone sculpting class while living in San Diego, California, that she knew she had found her passion. The challenge of working with stone has been a profoundly spiritual experience, both personally, and as an artist. Her sculptural subjects range from representational abstract forms, influenced by the human body itself, to the sensuality of organic shapes in nature - forms that just flow from within ...throughout.Her paintings also reflect a love of nature both on land and in the ocean. Visionary art is much like the process of life. It takes first the vision, then patience, trust, love and acceptance of what is, or the TAO to finally complete the art.
"My goal as an artist, is to create art that is not only pleasing to look at, and touch, but that also fills the observer with a sense of the healing energy permeating and surrounding the work, whether it be a painting, a mosaic or a stone sculpture. I have always believed that there is a profound connection between the healing arts and art itself. From the beginning seeds of conception of a work of art, there is a connection to the soul of the artist, his or her pain, love of life and process of healing is conveyed in the final outcome. The process of creating is a process of letting go, and allowing the work to evolve. As we heal, so we create, and through the creation of new life (or art) we also heal."
My mosaics are inspired both by my passion for sculpture and my love of stained glass. Glass is the perfect canvas for light, it increases both the visual and the emotional interpretation of the work. I also enjoy creating stories with my mosaics. I am currently working on a series of mosaic sculptures, both two and three-dimensional representations, on the self.
Mirrored Images, Self Reflection, and Contemplation.
Recent public venues and publications include:
November 9-18, 2007
San Diego Sculptor’s Guild Annual Juried exhibit
and show. Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa Park, San Diego.
November 5, 2007 – April 5, 2008
Public
Art Project: Downtown Mesa Association, Mesa, Arizona. "Sculptures in the Streets" Exhibition of large sculptures. A juried outdoor art exhibition featuring one of a kind art, placed in the historic district of Mesa. www.DowntownMesa.com.
October, 2007
Published in"Best of America Sculpture Artists & Artisans" , Vol 1; Page 79. Kennedy Publishing, 5251 John Tyler Highway #311, Williamsburg, VA 23185 www.KennedyPublishing.biz
May 31-July 29, 2007
"Abstract Dimensions" Juried show featuring artists Ilona Passino and Christopher Britain, at the Palm Desert Community Gallery. Palm Desert, California.
July 14 – August 4th, 2007
"Noah’s Art 2007" Animal-themed Juried Show to benefit the Escondido Humane Society. Escondido Art Association, Escondido, California.
March 26- April 15, 2007
LaJolla Art Association 28th Annual Juried County Awards Show. A show in all media by 63 San Diego Artists. LaJolla Art Association, 7932 Ivanhoe Ave., La Jolla, California.
February 25, 2007
The Outdoor Art Foundation in Association with the
Museum Artist Foundation Second Annual Invitational Sculpture Art
Show and Sale. Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel, Carlsbad, Ca.
January 26 - February 27, 2007
32nd Annual Small Image Juried Show. Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa Park, San Diego. Purchase Award For submitted sculpture “Circle of Love”.
December 9, 2006
San Diego Sculptors Guild Annual Juried Member’s
Show & Sale. Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa Park, San Diego,CA
November 11 – Dec. 6, 2006
"The Art of War", a Juried Art show to honor our Veterans, presented by the Escondido Art Association. Escondido, California
July
2nd, 2006
Juried
3D Art Show and Gallery Tour in Idyllwild,
California. Featured Artist for the "Four
Corners
Gallery of Fine Art" Idyllwild, Ca.
June
3-4, 2006
Art Alliance of Idyllwild 8th
Annual Juried
Members Show. "Four Corners Gallery of
Fine Art" Idyllwild, California. Awards: First
Place Award for Sculpture ("LeElephant").
May
27, 2006
"Art Extravaganza" at I.
Corey Studios, 25890 Cedar St., Idyllwild,
Ca. Helped organize an outdoor, one- day show which
included
ten other artists, live chamber music, and refreshments.
Fine paintings,
Sculpture, Mosaics & Jewelry
April
1-2, 2006
Art Alliance of Idyllwild Members
Exhibition,
"Two Babes in the Woods Gallery",
Idyllwild, California. Awards: First
Place Frank Vrabel memorial 3-D Award for Sculpture
("Ode to Kathe")
February 17-27, 2006
Palm
Spring, Calif. Indio Date Festival and County
Fair, Fine Arts Exhibition; Awards: First and Second Place in Advanced Sculpture Category.
January
17-February 28, 2006
Palm Springs "Art
and Soul" Exhibition,
City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission,
3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 92262:
Awards: Second Place and Honorable Mention for Sculptured
Mosaics.
January-June,
2006
County, Cultural Arts Council¹ "Artscape"
Exhibition in Riverside, California. Four paintings selected
for exhibition.
2005
- 2006
Part-time Instructor of Sculpture at The
Desert Fine Arts Institute, 1000 N. Palm Canyon
Drive, Palm Springs, Ca. www.desertfinearts.com
2005
Selected
to attend invitational
- 2005 Biennial International Sculpture Exhibition
in Florence, Italy
March
2004
Public
Art Project: "Lighthouses on Parade" in
Rochester, NY ; completed a 10-foot
lighthouse on permanent display in Rochester, NY.
Sponsor: R-House Realty.
March 2003
Public
Art Project: "Animal Scramble" in
Rochester, NY;
sponsored by Flanders Corporation to complete
a marble and stained glass mosaic sculpture of
an eight
foot Lion. www.TheBigParade.com/animalscramble/ Published
in "Animal
Scramble" by
OutFront Productions; www.TheBigParade.com.
ISBN:0-9711459-6-2. (2003)
July
2003
Published
in "Sculptural
Pursuit"; Vol.2
No.3; issue: Feature Article "The Winter
of the Lion" by Ilona
J. Passino.
An illustrated story about the project and artistic
process.
Also
Featured at these fine galleries and special shows:
Current
Member of:
The
International Sculpture Center;
Riverside Arts Council, Riverside, CA.; Art
Alliance of Idyllwild, Idyllwild, California; and The
San Diego Sculptors Guild.
Currently
on
exhibition at:
San
Diego Sculptors Guild, Studio 36 in Spanish Village
at Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif.
Summer
of 2007
City of Palm Desert Community Gallery
in Palm Desert, California. Selected to exhibit
in
the "Art in Public Places" by the Art Commission
of Palm Desert for upcoming year.
July
2006
Featured artist at "Four Corners
Gallery of Fine Art" Idyllwild, California,
Annual 3D Show.
2000
to 2002
Royce and Bond Gallery in Boulder,
Colorado - Featured
Artist
September 2000
Sedona
Sculpture Walk, Juried Invitational Show, Sedona,
Arizona
April
2000
Artisan Collection, 3852 Fourth Avenue,
San Diego, CA 92103 - Featured Artist-Sculpture
1998
Signature
Gallery, Del Mar, California - Juried Spring
Show - Sculpture
Summer 1998
Sumner
and Dean Gallery, San Diego, California -
Featured Artist- Sculpture.
Spring April
1991
Park
Avenue Gallery in San Diego, California - Paintings
and Stained Glass Exhibit
