J. Bochynski

J. Bochynski is a contemporary painter whose primary subject is derived from, among other things, the visual culture he grew up in.  Born into a middle class, suburban family in Amherst, New York, he is drawn to the suburban visual environment because it is both a common experience for many Americans, as well as a complex, personal symbol. He attended Amherst Central High School in the Buffalo suburb of Amherst and graduated in 2004.  He then attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) in Geneva, New York where Bochynski earned a B.A. in studio art as well as mathematics with honors.  The simultaneous coursework in these areas contributes to his painting practice and an analytical perspective of the visual environment.  While at HWS, Bochynski completed an honors project titled Suburban Imagery and Irony (2007), which included his first solo exhibit and written thesis—a bound copy is available at the college’s library or digital copy upon request from the artist.  Since graduation in 2008, Bochynski has become involved with the Buffalo art community in various ways.  He has helped create Buffalo Sugar City, an alternative art space, as well as worked at a local art museum.  Bochynski’s second solo exhibit, New Suburban Landscape took place in September 2009.  Currently, he is in the MFA Painting program at Rhode Island School of Design, scheduled to graduate in 2013.