Hannah Franklin facts for kids

Hannah Franklin, born in 1937, is a talented Canadian artist. She creates amazing sculptures and paintings. You can find her artwork in many important places. These include the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Canada Council Art Bank. Her art has been shown in Europe and all over North America.

Early Life and Art School

Hannah Franklin's family had to leave their home near Lublin, Poland in 1939. They went to Uzbekistan for a while. In 1945, they returned to Poland. Then, in 1948, her family moved to Canada. They finally settled in Montreal, Quebec.

In 1964, Hannah went to the Montreal Museum of Fine Art's School of Art and Design. She studied painting with Group of Seven artist Arthur Lismer. She also learned sculpture from Hugh LeRoy. She finished her studies in 1967. Hannah was one of the first artists in Canada to work with a new material called plastics.

Hannah Franklin's Art Career

Hannah Franklin is most famous for her sculptures. Her very first art shows were in 1970. They took place in Montreal and at Toronto University. After that, her work was shown in group exhibits. These included shows at the Ottawa Arts Centre and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

International Exhibitions

In 1971, Hannah was one of only six Canadian artists chosen. She got to show her work at a special sculpture event in Budapest, Hungary. She also exhibited at the International Art Fair in Switzerland in 1974. Another important show was La Biennale de Québec in Montreal in 1979.

Public Art and Performance

Hannah was chosen to create art for Expo 86 in Vancouver. She made large sculptures called "City Shapes" for Simon Fraser University. Hannah also loves dance and performance art. She designed stages and sets for shows. These included projects for the Saidye Bronfman Centre in Montreal and the Montreal Classical Ballet.

Painting Style and Themes

Besides sculpture, Hannah Franklin is also an abstract painter. Her paintings often use bright yellow, blue, and gold colors. Her style is very flowing and beautiful. Dancers are a common subject in her paintings and sculptures. She also explores themes like new beginnings and different generations. Writer Heather Solomon said that Hannah's art shows "the fleeting nature of life." It also shows the mark we leave on the Earth.

Recent Exhibitions

Hannah Franklin has had several solo shows in Montreal. In 1999, her "Beginnings" exhibit featured paintings of children. It also showed bronze figures and acrylic sculptures. In 2004, her "Trains" exhibit told the story of her childhood. It showed her experience as a war child returning to Poland from Uzbekistan. In 2012, a big show looked back at four decades of her art.

Hannah Franklin is recognized for her important contributions to modern art. Her work is in collections like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. She lives and works in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.