FAIRFIELD commissions local artist Jeff Bortniker

WESTPORT, CT - January 21, 2014 - Artist Jeff Bortniker has created a unique image to grace the program cover of the 2014 Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show, benefiting the EQUUS Foundation. The artist's work will also be featured on limited edition, signed posters.

Jeff Bortniker started painting in 1996, first as an escape from the daily stress of his career in finance, and now as a passionate pursuit.

Drawing inspiration from Rothko, Miro, Calder, and Johns, he naturally gravitated toward this similar style in his own work. Using mixed media as his base, Jeff works with acrylic paints, molding pastes, and spray paints. His bold use of colors and thick brush strokes imbue his paintings with passion, evoking an emotional response from the viewer.

Jeff is currently represented by galleries in both New York and Connecticut. His work is being collected by art lovers across the country. His larger works have been commissioned by Arista Records, Universal Records and Reader's Digest, among others.

Born in Brooklyn in 1962, Jeff is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He spent most of his professional life on Wall Street, first as a trader and then as an Environmental Financier.

2013 Fairfield Grand Prix Winner Sydney Shulman aboard HH Narcos Du Marais.
Photo above courtesy of Reflections Photography

FAIRFIELD will be held on Tuesday-Saturday, June 17-21, 2014 on the grounds of the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut.

FAIRFIELD, known for being both exhibitor and spectator friendly, is one of only 16 horse shows recognized with the Heritage Designation by the United States Equestrian Federation, the governing body of the equestrian sport. The show offers free admission and parking for spectators to enjoy top notch equestrian competition and activities for the entire family, including shopping and pony rides on Saturday's Family Fun Day sponsored by Nestlè Waters North America.

Highlights include the $7,500 Poland Spring Open Jumper Welcome Stake on Thursday, June 19, 2014 and the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix on Saturday, June 21, 2014, presented by Wells Fargo Advisors LLC & George N. Venizelos.

The Grand Prix is the culminating competition of the show, held in conjunction with the EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Luncheon. Set in a picturesque country setting, under an impressive Century tent, guests not only enjoy a champagne reception and elegant luncheon cuisine, they have a ringside view of exciting show jumping competition while also supporting a very worthy cause.

For more information, visit https://equusfoundation.org/fairfield.