Francine Gourguechon

Chicago, IL, United States

About Francine Gourguechon

I have been an artist since childhood when I was introduced to the creative life by my Grandmere, my French Grandmother. We would make art and cook and bake fine french food in her kitchen while painting designs on the lamp shades and floors in her home. I attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and my art making includes painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and mosaics. My mosaic sculptures are my most recent works and the focus of my art practice. Mosaics are an intriguing medium; difficult, time consuming and fantastic. I love working with luminous glass as there is such an array of colors and textures available. My mosaic sculptures are an endeavor to raise the bar of mosaic work to a fine art position combining the concept of tribal body decoration and fine craftsmanship. I also teach the art of mosaics to adults and young adults at Marwen Foundation and the Chicago Botanical Gardens as well at my studio every Wednesday evening for the past 10 years. Recently, I have been creating bas relief mosaics that are diminsional, wall hanging pieces. Two female figures floating in a sea of blue glass and vegetables on abstract backgrounds.

Education:

School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Mosaic School - Chicago, Illinois

Santa Fe workshops - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Toscana Workshops - Florence, Italy

Events:

Peoria Art League - Nude Attitude - Peoria, Illinois - 2015.

27th Annual Women's Work Exhibition - Woodstock, Illinois - 2015.

River North Art Expo - Modern Living Showroom - 2016&17 - Chicago, Illinois

Andersonville Art Festival - Chicago Illinois - 2019

Exhibitions:

Autumnal Equinox: Starline Gallery - 2013 - Woodstock, Illinois

From the Earth : Women Made Gallery - 2014 - Chicago, Illinois

Gathering: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland - Indiana Glass Arts Alliance Gallery - 2015 - Kokomo, Indiana

From the Earth - Women Made Gallery - 2015- Chicago, Illinois