Michael Francis
Washed Out Bridge, 2011
Artist Statement
“to see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour”
-William Blake
I strive for the type of sentimentality that exists in old photos, faded tapestries, and worn out prints. This literal wear of time acts as a filter, which creates idiosyncratic qualities, transforming the scene while referring to an inner domain of images. Each setting embodies individual qualities, creating a sense specific to the location depicted. However, the scene is not developed the same way one would if they were actually standing there; instead it is painted to be reminiscent of the experience through various states of one’s mind. Objects approximate their essential tones and surfaces so that their real and abstract properties can coexist.
Exhibitions
2013
Return to Narrative, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
This is What I Think, group show, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, TX
500X Annual Members Show, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2012
Mini Retrospective, 2002-2012, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Four Into One, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
500X Annual Members Show, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2011
Cut Copy Paste Paint, Group Show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
Opening Group Show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
500X Expo 2011, group show, Marty Walker Juror, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Incrementum Art Auction, Rising Gallery, Dallas, TX
2010
The Temporary Collective, group show, Dallas, TX
Easl Art Heist, Annual Fundraiser, Dallas, TX
The End of Commerce, group show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
No Rhyme or Reason, group show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009
Works on Paper, two person show, Mokah Gallery, Dallas, TX
Cities, one person show, Studio 204, Arlington, TX
Landscape Affected, group show, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Wish! Art Auction, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2008
Wish! Art Auction, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2007
F1, two person show, Marty Walker Gallery, Dallas, TX
Social Grace, group show, Greenwich Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2006
Easl Art Heist, Annual Fundraiser, Southside on Lamar, Dallas, TX
Apathy is the New Pink, group show, Revolution Gallery, Dallas, TX
Love Thyself, self-portrait group show, Revolution Gallery, Dallas, TX
The Summer Show/Critic’s Choice, annual membership show, The Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2005
Rocket, one person show, Janette Kennedy Gallery, Dallas, TX
Beaux Art Ball, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
Zodiac Signs, member show, the McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2004
Graduate Degree Exhibition, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Kronos, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Feelings, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Cranbrook Milles House, Temporary Collection, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2003
17 Acts of Genius, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Education
2004 MFA in Painting, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2001 BFA in Drawing and Painting, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
1996 San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
Related Experience
2004 Curated Kronos, student exhibition, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2002 Interviewed by national news broadcast, topic: student budgets
1995 Assistant to sculptor Herb Roggolia on public works project, Dallas, TX
Publication
2009 Studio Visit, Volume Seven, art magazine, with photo
2007 Riding for the Brand: The Story of the Hunt Petroleum Corporation, two color book illustrations
2004 What’s Next, April cover of Cranbrook’s pamphlet for the Graduate Degree Exhibition, with photo
Cultivating the Ideal, Cranbrook’s Graduate booklet, with photo
1998 The Met, review of Paintings and Vessels, by April Brown, with photo
“to see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour”
-William Blake
I strive for the type of sentimentality that exists in old photos, faded tapestries, and worn out prints. This literal wear of time acts as a filter, which creates idiosyncratic qualities, transforming the scene while referring to an inner domain of images. Each setting embodies individual qualities, creating a sense specific to the location depicted. However, the scene is not developed the same way one would if they were actually standing there; instead it is painted to be reminiscent of the experience through various states of one’s mind. Objects approximate their essential tones and surfaces so that their real and abstract properties can coexist.
Exhibitions
2013
Return to Narrative, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
This is What I Think, group show, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, TX
500X Annual Members Show, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2012
Mini Retrospective, 2002-2012, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Four Into One, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
500X Annual Members Show, group show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2011
Cut Copy Paste Paint, Group Show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
Opening Group Show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
500X Expo 2011, group show, Marty Walker Juror, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Incrementum Art Auction, Rising Gallery, Dallas, TX
2010
The Temporary Collective, group show, Dallas, TX
Easl Art Heist, Annual Fundraiser, Dallas, TX
The End of Commerce, group show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
No Rhyme or Reason, group show, Ro2 Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009
Works on Paper, two person show, Mokah Gallery, Dallas, TX
Cities, one person show, Studio 204, Arlington, TX
Landscape Affected, group show, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Wish! Art Auction, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2008
Wish! Art Auction, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2007
F1, two person show, Marty Walker Gallery, Dallas, TX
Social Grace, group show, Greenwich Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2006
Easl Art Heist, Annual Fundraiser, Southside on Lamar, Dallas, TX
Apathy is the New Pink, group show, Revolution Gallery, Dallas, TX
Love Thyself, self-portrait group show, Revolution Gallery, Dallas, TX
The Summer Show/Critic’s Choice, annual membership show, The Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2005
Rocket, one person show, Janette Kennedy Gallery, Dallas, TX
Beaux Art Ball, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
Zodiac Signs, member show, the McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2004
Graduate Degree Exhibition, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Kronos, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Feelings, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Cranbrook Milles House, Temporary Collection, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2003
17 Acts of Genius, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Education
2004 MFA in Painting, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2001 BFA in Drawing and Painting, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
1996 San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
Related Experience
2004 Curated Kronos, student exhibition, Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2002 Interviewed by national news broadcast, topic: student budgets
1995 Assistant to sculptor Herb Roggolia on public works project, Dallas, TX
Publication
2009 Studio Visit, Volume Seven, art magazine, with photo
2007 Riding for the Brand: The Story of the Hunt Petroleum Corporation, two color book illustrations
2004 What’s Next, April cover of Cranbrook’s pamphlet for the Graduate Degree Exhibition, with photo
Cultivating the Ideal, Cranbrook’s Graduate booklet, with photo
1998 The Met, review of Paintings and Vessels, by April Brown, with photo
