Gallery725 is proud to feature the works of Artist Tonsenia Yonn

“Oceans of Dharma”

July 21st – September 10th 2011

Artist Tonsenia Yonn

Tonsenia Yonn is a self-taught, mixed media artist whose love of her natural surroundings, organic textures and the unexpected combine to create an innovative and unique style.  Born and raised in rural Georgia, she began painting at the age of 15 and credits much of this early exposure to the environment as a source of inspiration.  She originally began creating artwork for a variety of interior design projects and used this background to launch her first show after moving to Charleston, S.C. in 2003.

Since that first successful show, Tonsenia has committed to her passion for making art and continues to evolve and experiment as an artist.  She likes taking an original form and presenting it in an unusual, distorted and often abstract way.  She moved to Neptune Beach, FL in 2006, where the natural beach setting continues to influence her work, as do her prior travels and love of using recycled materials. Earlier this year at “Arts in the Park” (Atlantic Beach’s largest Art Festival), Tonsenia was recognized with an “Award of Excellence” for her installation-esque presentation of her work.

Tonsenia’s newest show “Oceans of Dharma” showcases her ability to interpret her local surroundings, using paint, found objects and collage on many different substrates, featuring tributes to the natural world while incorporating unexpected nuances. Tonsenia’s creativity has always involved dharma, which is about accepting our imperfections, developing confidence, helping others and appreciating our basic goodness in everyday life. Dharma, also referred to as Natural Law, simply alludes to a natural order of things within our lives, you will find in her work a natural order exists however the resulting artistic expression may be as unpredictable as the forms she likes to create.

Winter Wren