Artist Statement 2024
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Considering the Path

My paintings are about the visual and psychological energy of the city expressed through the angularity of its architecture and infrastructure, painted with live, rapid, interesting brushstrokes. This high energy is sometimes offset around the edges of the urban landscape by a very different treatment of trees, bushes, and grassy areas as an impression of dabs, dashes, lines, and scumbled paint.

Although these paintings straddle and integrate impressionist and expressionist ethos, they represent two different stylistic trends. One is more expressionist, bold, and brushy. The other is more linear, graphic, and refined. These paintings beckon the viewer through dramatic perspective and suggest a curiosity and a journey. Landscape or Cityscape, the metaphor of “Take Any Road,” is usually close at hand in the work.

Finally, there is a tease in these works to see the next level of detail, but the attempt is to have the viewer create that detail while viewing the paintings.  

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Artist Biography

2018 Cerulean Arts Collective, Member

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Education

1978
Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
MA, Art Education
Graduate Grant Recipient

1973
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
BFA, Painting
Bocour Prize for Painting

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Awards & Honors

1979
Graduate Grant, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

1973
Bocour Prize for Painting, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

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Public Works

1973
Awarded Public Art Opportunity at Four Corners Playground, City of Philadelphia Percent for Art Program, Philadelphia, PA

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Publications

2015
Yates, Ernest, En Route from the Capital, Poems of Philadelphia,  Xlibris Corporation
(cover art)

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Collections

Works included in many private collections

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Professional Experience

2009-2010
Lecturer, European and American Art Survey Course, Haverford Township Evening School, Haverford, PA

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Exhibitions

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Solo

2024
Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2022
Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2021
Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2020
Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2019
Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2018
Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1715 Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia, PA

2017
Archer Law Firm, Philadelphia, PA

Stuart Kingston Jewelers Store and Gallery, Greenville, DE

2016
New Landscapes, High Point Café, Philadelphia, PA

2015
New Mexico Paintings, Morgan Gallery, Corrales, NM

2014
New Work, Merion Art, Ardmore, PA

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Three-Person

2014
Philadelphia Artists, CultureWorks of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

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Group

2024
InLiquid Toasts 25, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks, Philadelphia, PA

2023
Groundbreaking Women, Chester County Art Association, West Chester, PA

2019
The InLiquid Benefit, Philadelphia, PA

2017
154th Small Painting Exhibition, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition

2015
New Mexico Paintings, Morgan Gallery, Corrales, NM

New Work, Heron Crest Studios, Aston, PA

2014
Philadelphia Artists, CultureWorks of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Artists’ Work, Heron Crest Studios, Aston, PA

2013
Large Format Paintings, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

Artists’ Work, Heron Crest Studios, Aston, PA

2012
Artists’ Work, Heron Crest Studios, Aston, PA

Artspace, Lansdowne, PA

1975
More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1974
Artists Choose Artists, Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, PA

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Video

Cerulean Arts Collective Presents Fran Lightman Gibson