Aya Bendat

Capturing unconventional beauty, visual
complexities, humor and oddness in paintings, monotypes and clay is my life’s
work. I’m fascinated by tensions created through the interplay of opposites:
the peculiar to the familiar, the pretty to the bizarre, the abstract to the
representational. I express these tensions in my work spontaneously with
free-gestured brushstrokes and bold uses of color.

My goal is to surprise and inspire the viewer
with some unexpected twist to the overall themes. I work in a bold, rhythmic
manner which is all about purity while eliminating unnecessary information. One can trace my inspiration
from Vermeer, Matisse, Diebenkorn, Alex Katz and David Hockney.

In my paintings and monoprints, I focus on
portraits, abstracts and landscapes. I’m fascinated with capturing the essence
of a portrait-subject’s pose, mood and character, all in a single sitting. I
love how the intense, creative state I experience leaves its traces in a
painterly, sketchy style. This same dynamic extends to my landscapes where I
focus on water and sky scenes. These elements become portrait subjects in their
own right. I capture their movement and fluidity generating intriguing, atmospheric
scenes and interesting abstractions within the open spaces.

My approach to monotypes is experimental,
though there is a natural flow to it. For me, it is akin to weaving textiles. Thick
textured paper becomes the translucent base for layers of colors, textures and shapes.
Rhythm is my guide as the paper picks through these elements, floating as air
between interlaced loops. The contrasts of what is exemplified and what lies
beneath creates the depth of the tapestry.

In my ceramic sculptures, I create
abstract, odd, graceful forms that may be humorous, architectural or allude to
nature. I also love to create functional pieces which suggest associations to traditional
and contemporary Japanese and Korean pottery.

My art is meant to enhance collector’s homes and gardens, hotels, lobbies and other public
areas. I strive always to evoke a sense of joy and surprise, leaving the
observer the freedom to reflect and to decipher the work in their own way.