About the artist

Artist Bio

Francisco Silva was born in Lima, Peru. When he was three his family immigrated to the United States settling in New Jersey where he was raised. Encouraged by his parents, he began drawing at an early age. While attending Parsons School of Design he studied composition, color and oil painting as well as graphic design. After graduating, he continued oil painting and exhibited in various group shows at that time.

Francisco started working as a graphic designer at an art magazine that took up much of his time and eventually stopped painting. His profession turned from graphic design, to web design, and finally to web development. January 2019 marked his return to painting after many years of absence. He began with landscapes inspired by his backpacking trips on the Appalachian Trail.

Currently, his work has grown to include themes portraying the struggles of the everyday person. His influences include Edward Hopper and the Social Realist painters of the 1920s and 1930s. The rich textiles of his Peruvian roots are reflected in his use of vibrant color and his brushwork is a combination of loose, painterly strokes and controlled detail.

Artist Statement

My painting is inspired by my surroundings and the daily interactions I experience within them. I use color to express and evoke emotion preferring to mix all colors, including black, from a limited palette. The process is analytical at first, striving to create a balanced composition as a foundation for the work. When painting starts, I apply loose strokes to convey movement and energy. As the painting evolves, I refine only certain areas for emphasis and to create contrast.

Through my work, I try to connect with the viewer by sharing my personal moments in life. As their eyes move through the painting, I want them to ask questions about the subject matter, the location and my interpretation of that instance. I want them to react to the canvases whether they're large and panoramic scenes or smaller ones that are more personal and intimate.