I have been painting and creating art for over 50 years. It is and has always been an integral part of my life and a definitive statement of who I am as an individual. I paint because I love it. I love the smell of the oils and the rich, creamy way oil paints glide on a smooth canvas. I love to see an image emerge from those paints and form a visual reality for the viewer. My art is about communicating the simplicity and beauty of Life. It is something that often cannot be approximated with words alone, as there is a visual aesthetic that, by its very nature, accompanies the communication. And the aesthetic then elevates the communication beyond the words.

I am fascinated by the seemingly mundane parts of Life. A piece of fruit, an old piece of ceramic or glass, a flower that’s beyond its freshness, are all, to me, inherently beautiful. It is my mission as an artist to bring that beauty to others in a meaningful and abundantly aesthetic way.

-Fran Failla
www.franfailla.com

Art Reception: Friday, April 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.   MORE INFO

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About the Artist

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Fran’s personal artistic journey began at a very early age. Given the opportunity in elementary school to take up painting, she quickly showed a special aptitude for the medium. Her teacher recognized this and encouraged her mother to nurture her talent. Her mother wasted no time purchasing oil paints, canvas, and an easel for her to use. With this, she later went on to win several local and national art competitions for her work.

In high school and college, Fran continued to study art and art history. Fran quickly realized that oil painting was her passion, and so she focused on that medium alone, specializing in classical and contemporary still-life images. She attended Brooklyn College, which was known for its outstanding art department. There she studied under accomplished traditional artists, including Paul Gianfagna, who taught anatomy, and classical still-life painting. Fran strongly believes that an artist should be constantly growing and evolving. She, therefore, chose to continue her training at the Art Student’s League in New York, where she studied with contemporary masters Peter Homitsky, Leonid Gervits, and Dan Thompson. She also exhibited her work at the school, winning the prestigious “Red Dot” award. She went on to exhibit and sell her work locally in the New York area.

In 2018, Fran moved to the Tampa Bay area. Again, she sought out new art venues and chose to attend the Dunedin Fine Arts Center. There she studies with master artists, Markissia Touliatos and Shawn Dell Joyce. She is also a recipient of the Emerging Artist Grant for 2024. Fran’s professional affiliations include OPA (Oil Painters of America), TESA (The Exhibiting Society of Artists) and CAG (Creative Artists Guild of Dunedin).