Bernard Bovasso was born in Brooklyn NY in 1927 and died in Saugerties NY in 2014.  He is buried in the Veterans Cemetery in Saratoga Springs, NY.  He served in the Merchant Marine during World War II, and graduated from the Cooper Union fine arts school in 1950.  After graduation, he started a graduate fellowship at Yale University under Josef Albers.  In New York City during the 1950s, he showed work with the Tanager Gallery Group, which included Willem De Kooning and others, and with the Four Directions Gallery. 

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Bernard also worked in graphic design, and had his own business, BXB Designs.  He patented several designs, such as Groove Chairs.   He operated the Cross Street Gallery in Saugerties, NY, 2002-2008.  Until his death, Bernard wrote extensively on art, philosophy and analytical psychology, and has many self-published books.

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Bernard Bovasso is the brother of Julie Bovasso, the actress and playwright, who was married to the painter George Ortmann, some of whose work is in Bernard’s collection.  Bernard is the father of the contemporary painter, Nina Bovasso, who is the executrix of his estate and that of Julie Bovasso.

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The market valuation of Bernard’s work is difficult because he rarely sold work, with the exception of a few personal sales and exchanges, such as one to the author James Jones.   The sales of paintings of other artists who are similar in style, period, and “undiscovered” status might provide some guidance on the market value of his work.  These artists include Arthur Pinajian and Raymond Spillenger.

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Collectors, galleries or museums interested in the collection of Bernard Bovasso may contact Gregory Bovasso for more information.