Mike Bonanno

Igor Vamos, widely recognized as Mike Bonanno, was born on April 15, 1968. He is a prominent multimedia artist and a key figure in The Yes Men, known for their innovative and humorous activism. Vamos serves as an associate professor of media arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he influences the next generation of artists. A co-founder of RTmark, he gained significant recognition when he received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2003 for his groundbreaking project that utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to create a unique perspective in his documentary "Grounded," which explores an abandoned military facility in Wendover, Utah.

Vamos's educational journey includes a bachelor's degree in Studio Art from Reed College and a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from the University of California, San Diego. During his time at Reed, he established the Guerrilla Theater of the Absurd, a student group dedicated to culture jamming and protest performances. Notable acts included the "Reverse Peristalsis Painters," where participants dramatically vomited patriotic-themed food outside a political fundraiser, and a whimsical intervention that altered street signs in Portland to honor Malcolm X instead of Martin Luther King Jr.

Another of his notable early endeavors was the "Barbie Liberation Organization," which involved swapping the voice boxes of Barbie and G.I. Joe dolls, resulting in unexpected and humorous statements that garnered national media attention. Through these creative projects, Vamos has made a significant impact in the realms of art and activism.