Fran Lew facts for kids
Fran Lew is a talented American artist, born in 1946. She is known for her amazing portrait paintings. Fran Lew paints in a style called "contemporary realism." This means her art looks very real, almost like a photograph, but with her own modern touch. She combines old painting methods from famous artists of the past with her fresh ideas.
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Fran Lew's Artistic Journey
Fran Lew grew up in a family of artists. She started drawing with her father when she was just three years old! She loved art from a very young age.
Early Education and Training
Fran went to Boston University and earned a special art degree called an MFA. After that, she traveled to Venice, Italy. There, she continued her art studies at the Palazzo Grassi International Center.
Later, in New York City, she learned from famous art teachers. She studied at the Art Students League of New York. Her teachers included masters like Daniel Greene, Robert Beverly Hale, and John Howard Sanden.
Developing Her Unique Style
Fran Lew later moved to White Plains, New York. There, she learned from another great teacher, Cesare Borgia. Borgia was a student of Frank J. Reilly, a well-known art instructor. Fran Lew's painting style shows the influence of Reilly's ideas.
You can see this influence in her art exhibits. Her portraits and figures have been shown in places like the Columbus Club. They were also displayed at the Grand Central Art Galleries in New York City. The Grand Central Art Galleries closed in 1994. Records from the gallery are now kept at the Smithsonian Institution.
Where to See Fran Lew's Art
Fran Lew's beautiful artwork is displayed in many important places. You can find her paintings in museums and collections across the country and even internationally.
Notable Collections
Some of the places where her art is featured include:
- The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.
- The Cornell Museum of Art & American Culture in Delray Beach, Florida.
- The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- The Maitland Art Center in Maitland, Florida.
- The State of Israel Collection in Tel Aviv, Israel.
- The Brooklyn Historical Society in Brooklyn, New York.
- The Chuck Jones Gallery in Costa Mesa, California.
Awards and Recognition
Fran Lew has received many awards for her amazing portrait work. These awards show how much her talent is recognized in the art world.
Major Art Awards
- Gold Medal, Knickerbocker Artists, 1984
- Thora M. Jensen Portrait Award, Hudson Valley Art Assn., 1985
- Sharon Ortlip Memorial Award, Salmagundi Club, 1985
- Anna Hyatt Huntington Bronze Medal, First Place Graphic, Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, 1986
- Crescent Cardboard Company, Corporate Prize, American Artist Magazine Golden Anniversary National Competition, 1987
- Solo Award-Best Show, Pen & Brush Club Oil Exhibit, 1987
- Margaret Dole Portrait Award, Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, 1988
