Florence Vale facts for kids

Florence Vale (born April 18, 1909 – died July 23, 2003) was a Canadian artist. She was known for painting her dreams and imagination. Her art was influenced by styles like Surrealism, Cubism, and Expressionism. She also admired the work of artist Paul Klee.

Growing Up and Learning

Florence Vale was born in Ilford, England. When she was two years old, her family moved to Toronto, Canada. Her father was a piano-maker and musician. He taught Florence to play the piano when she was very young. Her mother was also a musician.

Florence did not have much formal art training. She finished school at age eleven after grade seven. After that, she worked in Toronto's clothing factories.

Meeting Albert Franck

When Florence was eighteen, she met Albert Franck. He was an artist from the Netherlands. Albert was a swimming instructor who taught Florence's brothers to dive. Two years later, Florence and Albert got married. They had two children, Trudy and Anneke. Sadly, Trudy died when she was a baby.

Becoming an Artist

Florence's husband, Albert Franck, was a painter. He often painted scenes of Toronto's backyards and houses. In the late 1940s, Florence started to try out his paints and brushes.

Unlike Albert, Florence painted things from her imagination. She used ideas from Surrealism to create her own unique art. This meant she combined dreams and memories with things she saw in real life.

A Hub for Artists

Florence and Albert's home in Toronto became a popular spot for artists, writers, and musicians. Many people from the CBC also visited. This allowed Florence to meet many creative people and find new ideas for her art.

Later Years and Exhibitions

After Albert died in 1973, Florence kept creating art. She made oil paintings, collages, and ink drawings. She even added her own poems to some of her artworks.

Florence's art was shown in exhibitions in Ontario, Quebec, and New York City. A major show of her work, called The Art of Florence Vale, happened in 2010. It was held at the Art Gallery of Peel in Brampton, Ontario.

One of Florence's small drawings from 1965, called Pyramid of Roses, was very inspiring. It led to artist Harold Town creating a series of his own artworks. It also inspired a short film by Christopher Chapman and Gordon McLennan.

Florence Vale passed away on July 23, 2003, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her collection of works is kept at the Art Gallery of Ontario.