JAI Featured Member/January 2026
Bonita Helmer
JAI Featured Member
Bonita Helmer
January 2026
JAI Featured Member
Bonita Helmer
January 2026
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious – EINSTEIN
The Theory of Everything II
2024, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 60″ x 60″
Without Beginning / Without End
2023, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 36″ x 36″
Here Be Dragons I
2012, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 60″ x 60″
The Four Worlds III, 2002-2005, acrylic on mixed media, 84″ x 144″ (4 panels, 84″ x 36″ each)
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The Four Worlds of the Kabbalah
This is one in a series of four. The Four Worlds III (above) is in the permanent collection of a Beijing museum.
According to the Kabbalah (the hidden mystical structure of the universe) the world is created as a great Tree of Existence or a tree of life.
The complexity of the “charting” of the universe has been a challenge to me as an artist. Painting this series has been a combination of using the mind, body, and spirit. I am fascinated with the similarities of The Four Worlds of the Kabbalah, other ancient spiritual systems such as Buddhism, the Chakras, and now with contemporary theories of physics. The wisdom of the ancient masters, when documenting this “unseen” structure never ceases to amaze me as it seems so relevant today. I wander through the depths of understanding and try to capture these abstract concepts through images in paint.
I have created four different interpretations of the Four Worlds of Existence. Each painting is constructed with four separate panels reading as one complete work. Each painting also features one of the levels of existence found in the center pole of the Kabbalah… information can be viewed on BonitaHelmer.com.
The Four Worlds of the Kabbalah
This is one in a series of four. The Four Worlds III is in the permanent collection of a Beijing museum.
I have created four different interpretations of the Four Worlds of Existence. Each painting is constructed with four separate panels reading as one complete work. Each painting also features one of the levels of existence found in the center pole of the Kabbalah… information can be viewed on BonitaHemer.com.
Ring Cycle III
2005, acrylic on canvas, 60″ x 48″
Suspension III
2015, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 36″ x 36″
Crystal Lattice II
2012, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 60″ x 60″
Artist Statement
My art and space explorations actually started when I was a child while I was seriously studying ballet. I was well aware when I was leaping and turning through space that there was something there. I thought I could sense moving molecules. Since that time the relationship between objects and space has fascinated me. However, the actual and concrete study of physics and space started after I became an artist. I studied theoretical physics at UCLA to try to understand that which I sensed intuitively and then apply it to my work. I had also been simultaneously studying several mystical philosophies including Buddhism and Kabbalah. Between the spiritual studies and physics research, I began to see the connections in space and physics exploration as well. I began to voraciously study quantum physics and look at images from the Hubble telescope and now the Webb telescope. I continue to study physics, images from space laced with universal symbols and references to ancient spiritual beliefs found in Judaism.
Exhibitions
Helmer’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Exhibitions include: Kunstraum F200 galerie, Philip Johnston Bl. Berlin; MOCA, Beijing; a solo show at Le Musee L’espace Bateau Lavoir, L’Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Paris; an official adjunct show as part of the MOCA Los Angeles, Whack retrospective of Women in Art; International Space Conference in Washington, DC.; Newport Harbor Art Museum (Orange County Museum of Art); Gallery Q, Tokyo; French Consulate/Alliance Francaise, Los Angeles; UCLA Dortort Center for the Arts, HUC Museum, NYU campus; Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). Helmer has also done paintings as set design for performance pieces, one co-produced by CalArts and the other in part by an NEA grant. She has been exhibited in several gallery exhibitions.
Background
During graduate work at Otis College of Art and Design, Helmer worked with Mitsumi Kanemitsu who became a strong influence in the use of abstraction in painting. Helmer also met and studied with Francoise Gilot at the University of Southern California/Idyllwild campus. Gilot introduced Helmer to the use of universal symbol in art. At that time other influences included a friendship with Dr. Jonas Salk who brought to Helmer, awareness of the relationship between science and art. Helmer studied the origins of the universe via physics and astronomy at UCLA while studying the Kabbalah at the same time and has continued in her personal research into physics and mystical studies. Helmer taught at Otis College Art and Design 1998-2018. Helmer received her BA in painting, UCLA, Antioch and did graduate work at Otis College of Art and Design.
Thank you!
About JAI
Jewish Artists Initiative (JAI) is a Southern California organization committed to supporting Jewish artists and arts professionals. JAI aspires to be an agent of transformative change by organizing provocative exhibitions and thoughtful programs promoting diverse dialogue about Jewish identity and experiences. Founded in 2004, JAI remains committed to fostering Jewish culture in our community and beyond.
MISSION AND HISTORY
JAI was conceived by the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles in 2004. It was originally in partnership with the University of Southern California Casden Institute and the USC Roski School of Art and Design. For many years we have been under the fiscal sponsorship of the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity. Members include primarily artists, as well as curators and art historians based in Southern California. The artists go through a jurying process to be admitted as members.
We have collaborated with a great range of Southern California institutions including American Jewish University, Hebrew Union College, UCLA Hillel and USC Hillel as well as a variety of art galleries and public spaces. We have also worked and exhibited in institutions in other parts of the United States and Israel such as the Jewish Art Salon, Hebrew Union College, New York, the New York UJA and the Jerusalem Biennale.
JAI BOARD MEMBERS
Bill Aron, Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik, Anne Hromadka Greenwald, Gilah Yelin Hirsch
Sagi Refael, Doni Silver Simons, Hillel Smith, Ruth Weisberg, Cathy Weiss
How to Become a JAI Member: JAI welcomes applications for membership from artists and arts professionals. For how to apply and to view the selection criteria click on Join JAI in the navigation links at the top or bottom of any page. Questions: contact JAI at admin@jaisocal.org