Hilary Bond

Bio

Hilary Bond is a painter and photographer whose work is shaped by rigorous study, professional practice, and responsiveness to cultural shifts. A Maryland native, Bond began her formal education at the Baltimore School for the Arts, earning a diploma in fine arts in 2003. She then attended The Cooper Union, graduating with a BFA in 2007 after intensive study in painting, drawing, photography, and design.

Following graduation, Bond relocated to Los Angeles, CA, establishing herself professionally by collaborating with fellow artists and actively participating in group exhibitions. Her paintings have been regularly shown with Artspace Warehouse in Los Angeles since 2010, while her digital work has found a home with the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art.

Driven to deepen her conceptual practice, Bond pursued an MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), which she completed in 2018. During this period, her work underwent a significant evolution, absorbing the pervasive influence of San Francisco's tech culture. Her practice expanded to incorporate more digital photography and abstraction, alongside explorations into film, performance, and installation art. Upon graduating, she joined the San Francisco Women Artists and the Northern California Women's Caucus for Art, utilizing these collectives to showcase her photo-based work.

In 2020, Bond returned to Maryland, a move motivated by a desire to be near family. She maintains an active studio practice, continuing to produce painting and photo-based work that is informed by the culture and politics surrounding her. Abstraction has emerged as her primary visual language. She experiments with combining abstraction and photography, leveraging her personal images as foundational source material. Through meticulous control of color, line, and composition, Bond investigates enduring human themes, including harmony, strength, memory, and loss. She is also committed to arts engagement as a docent at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Artist Statement

This body of work combines my photography with painting to express how I remember different places. I aim to create abstract images that convey movement, color, and composition, evoking emotions and memories. Each piece is unique, whether printed on aluminum or paper, and then enhanced with paint.

When I paint my prints, I choose colors and movements that resonate with the image, adding depth and tension to the composition. I want the paint's interaction with the photographic elements to draw the viewer in and create visual interest. 

In my Gradation series, I focus on simplifying and further exploring color and composition. These paintings are intended to feel calm and meditative, showing little of my hand despite being painted. Influenced by my meditation practice, they reflect a centeredness that echoes the recurring themes in my digital work. Through all of this, I hope to invite viewers into a space of contemplation and connection.

Hilary’s website