Patrick Francis Email and Phone Number

Patrick Francis is a contemporary artist based in Melbourne, Victoria. Born in 1991, Francis began exhibiting in 2009 at the tender age of 18. Since then, he has been the 2012 recipient of the Art & Australia / Credit Suisse Private Banking Contemporary Art Award & also the featured artist for Arts Project Australia at the Melbourne Art Fair. In 2013 Francis was featured in the Autumn edition of Art & Australia & held several exhibitions: At the Table, Arts Project Australia, Melbourne; Classic Albums, Tanks Art Centre, Cairns, etc.Francis usually works with acrylic on paper where he uses bold colors as an expressive tool combined with his signature blocks of color. His paintings often reference imagery from art history and visual culture.We spoke to Sim Luttin, Gallery Manager & Curator at Arts Project Australia who answered on behalf of Patrick Francis, giving us insight into how & why Patrick creates these appealing contemporary images. What was Patrick’s earliest memory of art? Was this something he was always drawn to?Patrick Francis has been creating art since he was young. He began exhibiting at Arts Project Australia in 2009 when he was 18 years old.What inspires and influences him?A prolific painter, Francis works primarily in acrylic on paper. His paintings draw from his own personal experiences, from firsthand encounters with Melbourne to his knowledge of popular culture & art history. Francis is drawn to costume & vivid color schemes, so historical imagery & the entertainment industry loom large in his chosen subject matter.How would you describe Patrick's artistic style?Using a bold color palette, Francis’ paintings are refined, expressive representations of portraiture & still life. His work ranges from studies of well-known celebrities & icons, from Marilyn Monroe to the 15th century Italian Renaissance author Baldassare Castiglione, to observations from everyday life. Francis liberated under-drawing is the key to his work, often discarding details in order to simplify the image to its essential elements.Patrick began exhibiting at 18, was this daunting or exhilarating? Francis has embraced & refined his painting practice since exhibiting at age 18. The exhibitions he is featured in seem to inspire rather than daunt him, & there is a pride in his work that is evident when you witness him interacting with his work in an exhibition context. Francis seems very comfortable with the attention he has received with his recent successes given that he has difficulty with crowds & noise that usually accompany exhibition openings.