Art Exhibitions

Paintings by Bruno Wernli

Paintings by Bruno Wernli will be on exhibit in the library’s Meeting Room Gallery during the months of January and February 2026.

The artist says of his work:

The work investigates the coexistence of control and unpredictability. Each painting begins with a defined composition and palette, then evolves through spontaneous gestures and the organic movement of paint. This mirrors the uncertain flow of life, where structure often dissolves into the unexpected. Layered surfaces become visual metaphors for resilience, transformation, and emotional complexity. At its core, the work seeks to create emotion—a pursuit I see as the holy grail of painting. I have long envied music and film for the way they can move audiences so directly. Abstraction, for me, is a way to reach toward that immediacy of feeling through pure color, rhythm, and texture. Ultimately, the questions beneath the work may remain unanswered: How did I get here? Who am I? Why? The paintings do not answer, but they open space for the viewer to reflect.

Rooted in abstract expressionism, the work is also shaped by architectural principles such as spatial balance, structural foundation, and proportion—an influence of my education and interest in architecture. Photography and my years living in the Caribbean, the United States, Europe, and Latin America also influenced my visual language, adding layers of atmosphere, rhythm, and cultural resonance. Key inspirations include the bold chromatic experiments of Niki de Saint Phalle, the gestural urgency of K.R.H. Sonderborg, and the textural complexity of Jack Whitten, as well as Gerhard Richter’s exploration of abstraction and chance. These references converge in works that celebrate the interplay between deliberate intent and intuitive mark-making.

Each painting is developed through a multi-layered process, a private, intimate, and emotionally charged practice. Pigments and raw materials are mixed into custom paints, emphasizing a direct, hands-on engagement with color. Surfaces are built up through successive applications, creating luminous, almost three-dimensional effects that embody tension between presence and impermanence. The use of raw, unblended, self-made pigments alongside standard, off the shelve materials, underscores the honesty and authenticity of the process—nothing hidden, only a direct dialogue between hand, surface, and color. Frames and supports are handcrafted as part of this philosophy of slow, intentional creation. The result is a body of work that does not dictate meaning but instead invites viewers to step into an open field of perception, memory, and emotion.

Born in Switzerland, Bruno Wernli is a contemporary artist currently based in Natick, MA. Specializing in acrylics on canvas, Wernli is renowned for his large-scale abstractions, characterized by luminous, intense colors, crafted through a multi-layer technique. He is best known for his adept handling of color and form, which results in captivating works that engage viewers with their visual depth and textural complexity.

Making his own canvas frames to specific proportions creates a link to Wernli’s past as an architect. Through his innovative approach to abstraction and his commitment to exploring the boundaries of color, form and materials, Wernli continues to captivate audiences. Pursuing art as a second career, he channels a lifetime of insights, unique depth, maturity, and perspective that come with life experience into each piece. Wernli is making work that speaks to resilience, renewal, and the transformative power of creativity.

For more information on Bruno Wernli’s work, visit: www.brunowernli.com

Exhibitions are free and handicapped accessible. Exhibitions in the library Meeting Room are available for viewing whenever the library is open and the room is not in use for a meeting. Please check the library’s Program Calendar for availability.

At the beginning of each year, the Arts Committee of the Acton Memorial Library invites Massachusetts artists to submit work for consideration for upcoming exhibitions in the Meeting Room Gallery. Please see the library’s Art Exhibition Policy for more information.

Exhibiting Your Art at Acton Memorial Library (PDF)