The Holladay Arts Council has selected Bonnie Beck as Holladay Artist of the Month for December 2025 in recognition of her talent and skill as an abstract realism painter and visual arts educator.  

Whether Beck is sharing her artistic talent and creativity with women experiencing homelessness or guiding children eager to discover the world of art in an elementary classroom, Beck encourages others to dig deep and find the artist within. 

“I believe everyone is an artist; they just haven’t found their medium yet,” Beck said. “My passion is to encourage people to explore their creativity and discover their unique modes of expression. Each person has individual ideas and ways of expressing those ideas. I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences with adults who have come to the realization that they can create art.”

Being homeschooled gave Beck daily freedom to explore her identity, connect with nature, and cultivate her creativity. She reflects, “I think my strong passion for art and creativity has something to do with my being homeschooled. I always felt like the sky was the limit when it came to creating. It definitely was the foundation of why today, I love to study, I love to learn, and I love to think outside the box.”

After high school, Beck enrolled in a two-year Bible school located in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. The school offered a unique blend of biblical education and practical experience, making it a perfect place to build a solid foundation in biblical principles she would utilize in the future.

“I’ve participated in many short-term mission trips,” Beck said. “At 16, I traveled to the Philippines, and by 18, I found myself in Italy and South Korea. It was while living in a kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee in Israel at age 23, I began to take painting seriously. Every day, we would visit archeological sites that hadn’t been excavated—not too interesting. I reached a point where I felt I needed to engage my mind and make better use of my time. I had some watercolors with me, and I started painting. After leaving Israel, I traveled and continued painting for 10 years.”

After returning to Utah, Beck married. She and her husband frequently explore art galleries. It was this activity that turned Beck’s tide of interest from watercolor to acrylic paint. 

Beck said, “When were in an art gallery in Park City, my husband walked over to this large painting and called over his shoulder ‘I love this!’ I walked over to take a look. I told him I thought I could paint something similar. We returned to Salt Lake and immediately went to buy a large canvas and some acrylic paint. In the past I had used acrylic paint and it dried somewhat chalky and I didn’t really love the look. I decided to try mixing different things into the paint such as sand and baking soda. It made the paint thick and interesting to me.”

Beck displays and sells her art on the walls of many cafés and coffee shops in Utah. One of her favorite places to exhibit her art is a small gift shop in Capitol Reef National Park, where she recently participated in a four-day plein air event. Beck describes her passion for art on her website: “I’m a painter deeply inspired by the raw beauty of nature. My art is where the vibrant energy of the outdoors meets the canvas, through swift, passionate strokes of acrylic and watercolor.” 

For the last few years, Beck has taught art at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley. In addition, she offers art classes at local elementary schools and senior living centers. She is also committed to sharing her talents and resources with women experiencing homelessness. Every year, on Valentine’s Day, she participates in a local event dedicated to helping these women. As a licensed cosmetologist, she uses her artistic skills to provide hairstyling, makeup application and guidance on selecting clothing that enhances their limited wardrobes. 

“I love people,” Beck said. “I’m so fortunate that my art connects me to various communities, allowing me to get to know others and share my passion for creativity and meaningful connections.” 

Beck's debut art exhibit will be on display at Holladay City Hall through December. Join her for an open house on Dec. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Holladay City Hall, 4580 S. 2300 East.

If you would like more information about Beck’s art work and commissions visit her website at: www.bonniebeck.com/.

Bonnie Beck’s art style engages the viewer on multiple levels depicting real-world subjects through abstract methods. (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Beck)