FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS
Bringing Portland’s Best to You
Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The Francis. Each exhibit will either feature an artist or subject from Maine. This month we are featuring works by Lisa DiFranza.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Lisa DiFranza was raised in New York City, in a family of artists. She watched her dad sketch characters in their neighborhood, and her parents encouraged her to make her own artistic creations. Her love of both visual and performing arts led her toward a successful career as a theater director, educator and non-profit leader and consultant. Home during the pandemic lockdown, and with collaborative arts suspended, Lisa created 365 daily paintings in her kitchen “studio.” Those “dailies” recharted the course of her professional life, and gave way to a robust studio practice and exhibition schedule.
As a non-profit leader, Lisa served as the Executive and Artistic Director of The Children’s Theater of Maine, Education Director and Literary Manager at Portland Stage Company, Founding Director of The Arts Academy, an innovative public high school arts pilot program for the State of Maine. She was hired to provide leadership through transitions at both The Center for Cultural Exchange, and the Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine. She is currently the Festival Coordinator of The Maine Jewish Film Festival.
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Past Artists
Carla Weeks
Carla Weeks is a British-born painter and muralist based in Midcoast Maine. Informed by her personal interactions with both the natural landscape and built environment, she utilizes abstraction to navigate through the physical and emotional experience of place....
Isabelle O’Donnell
Isabelle Maschal O’Donnell is a textile artist who lives and works in Midcoast, Maine. She received her BFA from Maine College of Art & Design, and has exhibited at venues including Able Baker Contemporary, BUOY Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art at...
Leslie Anderson
FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS Bringing Portland's Best to You Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here, in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The...
Tyler Weeks
FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS Bringing Portland's Best to You Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here, in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The...
Kyle T. Randall
FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS Bringing Portland's Best to You Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here, in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The...
Tara Rook
FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS Bringing Portland's Best to You Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here, in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The...
Marci Spier
FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS Bringing Portland's Best to You Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here, in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The...
Kneeling Art Photography
FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS Bringing Portland's Best to You Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here, in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The...
MJ Benson
FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE FRANCIS Bringing Portland's Best to You Portland has such a vibrant art community, and we’ve chosen to showcase some of the local talent here, in Maine, through a rotating gallery in common spaces at The...