Artist’s Bio
Rachel Francis is a visual artist living and working in Toronto, Canada.
Rachel was born and raised in Guyana. She moved to Canada when she was 17. She was educated in Canada at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. She has studied art with Canadian Artist, Martha Johnson and at Ontario College of Art with several teachers including Luca Bogdan.
Emigration has left its imprint on her. When she is not painting she is working on her “fortress” – family life, politics, poetry, books about art, dogs and travel.
Rachel’s artwork is held in private collections in Australia, France, the United States and Canada.
Artist’s Statement
Painting is for me a kinesthetic activity. E.H. Gombrich’s says we interpret and code the experience of our fellow creatures not visually but in muscular form. Painting has taught me that he is right. It is the foundation on which I find my answer to that age-old question of “how I know a painting is finished?” My answer is that I know it is finished, when I experience an almost kinesthetic empathy with its subject. I think what Jane Hirschfield says about poetry can be also said about the visual arts, a poem she says “plucks the interconnection of the experiencing self and all being”(Ten Windows, 2015). The same can be said about a painting.
Exhibitions:
2021 Group Shows:
Anonymous Hear Project, 2021
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
HelloArt Online
2020 Group Shows:
Where Do We Land, Lesley Grove Gallery
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
HelloArt Online
2019 Solo Shows
Morgan’s On The Danforth
Group Shows
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction. Regularly featured, best-selling artist.
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
HelloArt Online
V is for Volunteer, Artists’ Network Gallery
2018 Solo Shows
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction – Newsletter Featured Artist
Group Shows
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction. Regularly featured, best-selling artist.
Andersen Art Consulting Gallery (Curated Exhibition)
Holiday Art Bash (Juried Exhibition)
2017 Solo Shows
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction. Regularly featured, best-selling artist.
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
Andersen Art Consulting Gallery (Curated Exhibition)
Holiday Art Bash (Juried Exhibition)
2016 Solo Exhibitions
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction. Regularly featured, best-selling artist.
Andersen Art Consulting Gallery (Juried Exhibition)
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
Holiday Art Bash (Juried Exhibition)
2015 Solo Exhibitions
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction. Regularly featured, best-selling artist.
Canadian Fine Gallery – Contemporary Canadian Painting
White Wall North Gallery, Toronto
Elaine Fleck’s Catalogue of Contemporary Fine Art – Spring/Summer 2015
Ben Navaee Galley, Toronto: Group show: Summer Art Exhibit
Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto: Nuit Blanche Exhibit
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
Leaside Skating Club Sale & Silent Auction
Holiday Art Bash (Juried Exhibition)
Andersen Art Consulting Gallery (Juried Exhibition)
2014 Solo Exhibitions
Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction. Regularly featured, best-selling artist.
Group Shows
Canadian Fine Gallery – Contemporary Canadian Painting
White Wall North Gallery, Toronto
Presents: The Elaine Fleck Gallery Catalogue Show
Saatchi Art Online (Artist Recognition Designation)
Elaine Fleck’s Catalogue of Contemporary Fine Art – Fall/Winter 2014
Ben Navaee Galley, Toronto: Summer Art Exhibit
Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto: Nuit Blanche Exhibit
Holiday Art Bash (Juried Exhibition)
2013 Solo Exhibitions
Hanks Bistro, Toronto (Curated Solo Exhibition – July 2013)
OakWood Public Library and Arts Centre – City of Toronto (Juried Solo Exhibition– March 2013)
ArtBOMB – Daily Online Auction. Regularly featured, best-selling artist.
Group Exhibitions
Holiday Art Bash (Juried Exhibition)
Private Corporate Exhibition curated by ArtBOMB
Gerrard Art Square: Paintings
2012 Solo Exhibitions
Woodside Public Library – City of Toronto (Juried Solo Exhibition)
Arts on The Danforth, 2012 Festival (Juried Solo Exhibition)
Group Exhibitions
Hangman Gallery (Juried Exhibition)
Spazio Dell’Arte Gallery
IX Gallery (Riverside Walkfest 2012) (Juried Exhibition)
The PaperMill Gallery
2011 Group Exhibitions
Spazio Dell’Arte Gallery
2010 Group Exhibitions
The Women’s Art Association
Rachel’ s work has appeared on HGTV.com.