Patrick Francis - References
Patrick Francis, born 1991, is a young contemporary painter who finds his primary source material in the visual culture and art history of western
civilisation. A wide range of images attract his attention and he delves into them with enthusiasm. Francis is drawn to the work of Michelangelo, Goya, Raphael, Van Gogh, Rubens, Velazquez and Gorky, and has a true gift for discovering the essential humanity of the subjects besides showing the attitude / point of view often masked in the pictorial plays of the artist.
Francis presents his work with his characteristic bold / impressive colours and simplification of the illustrative plane recalling the intensity of modernist movements like Fauvism / German Expressionism, stripping back the image to its main components and highlighting his penchant for nostalgic portraits from bygone eras. He captures the essence of the Masters with his inimitable daring use of vibrant shades as an expressive tool to focus the viewers' attention on key elements in his work which is loaded with meaning / emotive value; form / contours are flattened becoming bright planes of colour with subtleties existing on the edges that hint at hidden depths of perspective and detail.
Francis is an enthusiastic, emerging Australian artist and illustrator with autism from a CALD background who communicates effectively through his paintings. His remarkable work is texturally rich winning him the Art & Australia/Credit Suisse Contemporary Art Award 2012, MIRA 2010-16, Victorian Multicultural Art Award 2014, Victorian Young Achievers Art Award 2014, MVCC Mayoral Art Award 2014, A1 Darebin Art Salon 2016, National Finalist in Darebin Art Prize 2015 & Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2016, besides being featured in Melbourne Now 2013, Melbourne Art Fairs 2012 & 2014, SafARI 2014 (Sydney Biennale), FLAIR Melbourne 2016, Arts Project Collins Place / Sofitel Showcase 2016, Open Studios at Footscray Arts and Saltwater Centre 2014-16, Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney; Arts Project Australia Gallery, Northcote; Roslyn Smorgon Gallery / Splash Gallery, Footscray; Incinerator Gallery, Aberfeldie; Little Woods Gallery, Collingwood and Sunshine Art Spaces since 2010 besides national / international exhibitions / private collections. He has also won several youth, sport and community service awards from Moonee Valley / Maribyrnong / Moreland Councils, Victorian Premier - Dr Denis Napthine and the Hon Bill Shorten MP. In addition to this, he assists his sister Lesley Steff curate and install 10-15 disability awareness exhibitions globally every year promoting multiculturalism, acceptance and respect for all and recognition for special needs individuals as contributing members of society.
A prolific painter, Patrick Francis works primarily in acrylic on paper. Drawing inspiration from personal experience, popular culture and art history, he uses a bold colour palette to create refined and expressive figurative representations. His current work focuses on studies of well-known celebrities and icons to observations of everyday life and reinterpretations of iconic Australian painters. Patrick Francis (1991) has been attending Arts Project Australia since 2009 and had his first solo exhibition in the Arts Project gallery in 2014. He has been included in numerous group shows including ‘Salon; gems from the stockroom’, Robin Gibson Gallery; ‘Melbourne Now’, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne; and ‘Connected’, Yarra Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne. He was a recipient of the Art & Australia/Credit Suisse Private Banking Contemporary Art Award in 2012 and is held in numerous private collections.
civilisation. A wide range of images attract his attention and he delves into them with enthusiasm. Francis is drawn to the work of Michelangelo, Goya, Raphael, Van Gogh, Rubens, Velazquez and Gorky, and has a true gift for discovering the essential humanity of the subjects besides showing the attitude / point of view often masked in the pictorial plays of the artist.
Francis presents his work with his characteristic bold / impressive colours and simplification of the illustrative plane recalling the intensity of modernist movements like Fauvism / German Expressionism, stripping back the image to its main components and highlighting his penchant for nostalgic portraits from bygone eras. He captures the essence of the Masters with his inimitable daring use of vibrant shades as an expressive tool to focus the viewers' attention on key elements in his work which is loaded with meaning / emotive value; form / contours are flattened becoming bright planes of colour with subtleties existing on the edges that hint at hidden depths of perspective and detail.
Francis is an enthusiastic, emerging Australian artist and illustrator with autism from a CALD background who communicates effectively through his paintings. His remarkable work is texturally rich winning him the Art & Australia/Credit Suisse Contemporary Art Award 2012, MIRA 2010-16, Victorian Multicultural Art Award 2014, Victorian Young Achievers Art Award 2014, MVCC Mayoral Art Award 2014, A1 Darebin Art Salon 2016, National Finalist in Darebin Art Prize 2015 & Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2016, besides being featured in Melbourne Now 2013, Melbourne Art Fairs 2012 & 2014, SafARI 2014 (Sydney Biennale), FLAIR Melbourne 2016, Arts Project Collins Place / Sofitel Showcase 2016, Open Studios at Footscray Arts and Saltwater Centre 2014-16, Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney; Arts Project Australia Gallery, Northcote; Roslyn Smorgon Gallery / Splash Gallery, Footscray; Incinerator Gallery, Aberfeldie; Little Woods Gallery, Collingwood and Sunshine Art Spaces since 2010 besides national / international exhibitions / private collections. He has also won several youth, sport and community service awards from Moonee Valley / Maribyrnong / Moreland Councils, Victorian Premier - Dr Denis Napthine and the Hon Bill Shorten MP. In addition to this, he assists his sister Lesley Steff curate and install 10-15 disability awareness exhibitions globally every year promoting multiculturalism, acceptance and respect for all and recognition for special needs individuals as contributing members of society.
A prolific painter, Patrick Francis works primarily in acrylic on paper. Drawing inspiration from personal experience, popular culture and art history, he uses a bold colour palette to create refined and expressive figurative representations. His current work focuses on studies of well-known celebrities and icons to observations of everyday life and reinterpretations of iconic Australian painters. Patrick Francis (1991) has been attending Arts Project Australia since 2009 and had his first solo exhibition in the Arts Project gallery in 2014. He has been included in numerous group shows including ‘Salon; gems from the stockroom’, Robin Gibson Gallery; ‘Melbourne Now’, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne; and ‘Connected’, Yarra Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne. He was a recipient of the Art & Australia/Credit Suisse Private Banking Contemporary Art Award in 2012 and is held in numerous private collections.
Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence : September 22, 2014
Patrick & Lesley Francis received the Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria Arts Award from the Hon Dr Denis Napthine, Premier of Victoria at Government House.
Patrick & Lesley Francis received the Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria Arts Award from the Hon Dr Denis Napthine, Premier of Victoria at Government House.
August 07, 2014 : Patrick Francis received the inaugural Mayoral Art Award from Cr Jan Chantry, Mayor of Moonee Valley through the Moonee Valley Foundation.
May 09, 2014 : Lesley & Patrick Francis won the Victorian Young Achiever Coffee Club Arts Award
Expressions Exhibition : May 5-June 3, 2014 curated by Lesley Francis presented by Patrick Francis promoting disability awareness at Splash Gallery, Phoenix Youth Centre, Footscray. Launched by Cr Sarah Carter of Maribyrnong City Council.
Aspect National Recognition Award : April 08, 2014
Patrick Francis won the inaugural National Inspiration Award for Individual Achievement from
John Doyle AM & CEO Adrian Ford at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Sydney
Patrick Francis won the inaugural National Inspiration Award for Individual Achievement from
John Doyle AM & CEO Adrian Ford at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Sydney
March 15 - April 2014 : Patrick Francis at SafARI 2014 Exhibition in Chippendale, Sydney,
where his work was on display.
where his work was on display.
April 2, 2014 : Patrick Francis at his "Light It Up Blue Exhibition" promoting
World Autism Awareness Day at the Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
with Mayor Jan Chantry, MVCC staff and the local community.
World Autism Awareness Day at the Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
with Mayor Jan Chantry, MVCC staff and the local community.
November 22, 2013 : Patrick Francis with Tony Ellwood, NGV Director and David Hurlstone,
NGV Senior Curator at the launch of Melbourne Now Exhibition, NGV Australia, Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne. Open November 22, 2013 - March 23, 2014.
NGV Senior Curator at the launch of Melbourne Now Exhibition, NGV Australia, Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne. Open November 22, 2013 - March 23, 2014.
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