— Statement + CV
Kristen Franyutti is an American Artist based in both Detroit MI & Northeastern AR.
Viewing my installations of fictional microcosms and mixed media drawings, transports the viewer into an illusory world of biomorphic forms inspired by recent innovations in applied science, the human body, and its surroundings. The viewer is met with vibrant color, sumptuous beauty, and a hint of chaos that depicts a future ecosystem of otherworldly elements. Reminiscent of biological systems gone awry, the work becomes a commentary on contemporary living and capitalism but also embraces the decorative. These microcosmic drawings create a scene of hectic beauty, invoking a sense of science fiction of corybantic mutations between natural and manmade components. Additionally, the pieces use labor-intensive techniques, such as sewing, threading, and hand beading that references the female body, personal experience, and domesticity.
I am captivated by objects that grow, transform, and reshape themselves. I envision my work as a conceptualized environment, like the Kunstkammer or cabinets of curiosities, in the sense that it will resemble a microcosm or memory theater of the world. The Kunstkammer fascinates me because it symbolically conveyed the patron's ability to construct and control the world through an indoor, smaller replica, which became a kind of miniature version of the world. In the same way, my sculptures are created as controlled environments, but my drawings are created with a view to capturing the natural world in which these inhabitants might reside. My drawings incorporate a collage approach with layers of fabric, watercolor paper, washi paper, personal photographs of my travels around the world, and digital altered photographs of my sculpture work, all embellished with thread, and beading. I also commonly utilize cellular forms as patterns, since they represent the basic building blocks for all living things. Additionally, I view my drawings as collections of future organisms or specimens created through the mutations of genetic engineering (the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material). The overall composition creates a kind of mythical landscape that simultaneously attempts to connect many elements into inescapably fragmented and elusive narratives.
I chose the Kunstkammer as the platform to stage my work because it served as the first museum of unknown objects or collections of objects that at the time were yet to be defined. Furthermore, the Kunstkammer was a personal luxury museum for those who could afford to create and maintain such a collection. In same way I see my drawings as collections of future organisms or specimens created through the mutations of genetic engineering (the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material), but instead of displaying my work in a room where they would be organized and labeled, I choose to create my microsomes as delegate fragile drawings behind glass, often paired with sculptures that you might see in a luxury window display for a couture fashion label, a luxury brand that only a few can afford to shop. Like many of today’s new innovations, only a select few can afford them. In a market-based economy, innovation and discovery come at a cost. Often in an effort to recoup investment and to maximize gains for shareholders, new breakthroughs in technology remain out of reach for all but the most affluent until the expiration of patents or economies of scale reduce prices. In the same way, I see my drawings as representations of objects and discoveries that remain largely inaccessible to the masses. The current advances in genetic engineering intrigue me, but I ruminate about some of the negative consequences that accompany these positive developments. Will the physical and intellectual advantages for humankind affect the evolution of our ecosystem?
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CV
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Michigan State University, Summa Cum Laude, 2017 (Drawing & Painting)
Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of North Texas, 2011 (Fashion Design)
EXHIBITIONS
2023 Fragments, Strata Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, (Internationally Competitive), Juror: David Olivant President and co-founder of Strata Gallery.
2023 Art & Ecology, O’hanlon Center for the Arts, Mill Valley, CA, Online Gallery, (Internationally Competitive), Juror: Obi Kaufmann, artist, writer, and Board of Directors at CA Wilderness Coalition.
2023 Strata II:Manifesting through the Layers, Verum Ultimum Gallery, (Nationally Competitive, Juror: Jennifer Cutshall, Founder, Owner and Curator of Verum Ultimum Gallery.
2023 25th Rio Brazos, The Langdon Center, Tarleton State University, Stephenville TX, (Nationally Competitive), Juror: Daniel Blagg, Artist.
2023 Your Wildest Dreams, Vestige Concept Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, (Nationally Competitive), Juror: Alexander Sands, owner and curator of Vestige Concept Gallery.
2022 Unlatch, Solo, Bradbury Art Museum, Arkansas State University, (invitational), Curated by Garry Holstein, Director and Curator at Daum Museum of Contemporary Art.
2022 National Open Juried Exhibition, Providence Art Club, Providence Rhode Island. (Nationally Competitive), Juror: Claire C. Whitner, PHD Director of Curatorial Affairs and the James A. Welu Curator of European Art Worcester Art Museum.
2021 V2V, Visual to Verbal: Capricious Whimsy, Suffolk Art Gallery and Suffolk Art League, Suffolk, VA. (National/Invitational), Curated by Angela Reavis, Culture Arts Coordinator
2021 23rd Annual Rio Brazos Juried Exhibition Selection, Tarleton State University Dora Lee Langdon Culture & Educational Center, Granbury, TX, (Nationally Competitive) Juror: Diana Durant, Associate Professor of Photography at the University of Texas of Dallas
2021 Persistence III: A National All Women’s Juried Exhibition, D’Art’s Center, Norfolk, VA, (nationally competitive) Juror: Lori Pratico founder of the Girl Noticed Community Mural Project.
2021 Artist’s Vision 2021, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA. Virtual gallery show and video version, (internationally competitive) Juror: Kim Eagles-Smith, Director of the Kim Eagles-Smith Gallery in Mill Valley, CA.
2020 4th Annual National Juried Competition, Center for Contemporary Arts, Jane Adams Breed Gallery, Abilene, TX, (nationally competitive) Juror: Thomas Motley, Dallas/FortWorth-based painter and academic
2020 Material II, D’Art’s Center, Norfolk, VA, (internationally competitive) Juror: Liana Graham Visual Arts Department Chair at the Governor’s School for the Arts co-curated by gallery manager Amanda Bradley, and exhibition juror, Liana Graham
2020 7th Annual Abstract Catalyst Exhibition, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland, OR (internationally competitive), Curator: Jennifer Gillia Custshall
2019 Fiber Without Borders, Glen Arbor Art Center, MI. Juror: Shanna Robinson, Professor of Art at North Central Michigan Collage in Petoskey, MI (internationally competitive)
2019 New Views: Home/Place, Glen Arbor Art Center, MI. Juror: Linda J. Beeman, mokuhanga artist, instructor and independent curator (internationally competitive)
2019 Odds and Ends, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Anrbor, MI. Juror: John Gutoskey, Art Prize Winner 2018 (internationally competitive)
2019 Permanence and Change, Kreft Center for the Arts, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI. Juror: Amanda Coulson, Director of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, Co-Founder of VOLTA (internationally competitive)
2018 Heat Wave, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI. (invitational) Curator: Megan Winkel Gallery Director of Ann Arbor Art Center
2018 Decadent Illusions, A.I.R Gallery, Brooklyn, New York. (small group)
2018 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Quilt Project, Museum of AustralianDemocracy in Old Parliament House, Canberra Australia (international invite)
2018 Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham MI
2017 Excellence in Fibers, Fiber Art Network, Online Gallery. http://fiberartnow.net/portfolio/excellence-in-fibers-2017/ (internationally competitive)
2017 FASA 43rd Annual Juried Fiber Art Exhibit, Kelso Art Center, San Antonio Texas.(internationally competitive)
2017 Emergence-17, Ford Hall Gallery, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti.Curator: Gregory Tom (competitive)
2017 Nonesuch: Art of Paper Awards & Exhibition, Main & Station, Ottawa, Montreal,Canada & Nova Scotia, Canada. (internationally competitive)
2017 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Quilt Project, Kings Artist Run, Participatory art project raising funds for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Melbourne, Australia. Curator: Tal Fitzpatrick (international invite)
2017 MFA Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Curator: Carla Acevedo-Yates
2016 Dream or Nightmare, Scene Metrospace, East Lansing, MI. Juror: international Chicago based painter Judy Jashinsky. (internationally competitive)
2016 All Media MFA Exhibition, gallery 101, gallery 114, Kresge Art Center, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
2016 La Triennale Internationale des Arts Textiles, Moon Rain Centre for Textile Arts, Quebec, Canada. Collaboration project with South-African artist Tina Struthers. Juror: Thoma Ewen, Artistic Director of Moon Rain Centre, and Gabby Ewen, Director of Moon Rain Centre. (internationally competitive)
2015 Closer, Scene Metrospace, East Lansing, MI. Juror: Jae Won Lee, Professor, Michigan State University. (internationally competitive)
2015 Place in Proximity, Scene Metrospace, East Lansing, MI. Juror: Dustin London, Assistant Professor, Eastern Michigan University. (internationally competitive)
2015 Curiosities, Gallery 114, Kresge Art Center, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University, East Lansing. (solo)
2015 All Media MFA Exhibition, Gallery 101 and 114, Kresge Art Center, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
2015 Rejoinder, Gallery 114, Kresge Art Center, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University, East Lansing. (5 people, invitational)
2014 Evening with the Arts, Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts, MI. (group, invitational)
2014 All Media MFA Exhibition, Gallery 114, Kresge Art Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
2011 ArtWear Runway Show, University Union, University of North Texas, Denton. Juried by Neiman Marcus (competitive)
2011 Dallas Career Day Fashion Show, sponsored by Fashion Group International, Dallas, TX. (nationally competitive) 2010 ArtWear Runway Show, University Union, University of North Texas, Denton. Juried by Neiman Marcus (competitive)
2010 Dallas Career Day Fashion Show, sponsored by Fashion Group International, Dallas, TX. (nationally competitive)
2010 Fashion on Main, Universities Center, Dallas,Tx, sponsored by The Fashionistas, a nonprofit group founded by Heidi Dillon, and University of North Texas, Denton. Curator: Myra Walker, Director and Curator at the Texas Fashion Collection, and Professor, University of North Texas. (5 people, invitational)
2010 Go Red for Women Luncheon and Fashion Show, Texas Women’s University, Denton, sponsored by Women’s Heart Association (nationally competitive)
GRANTS + FELLOWSHIPS + HONORS + AWARDS
2023 Middle East Studies Grant, Arkansas State University, AR. ($5500.00)
2022 Honorable Mention Award, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA. Awarded by Jen Tough, Owner of AIR Studios and former director for Warner Bros Records.
2021 Best In Show Award, David and Claudio Southern, The Tarleton Department of Fine Arts, juror Diane Durant. Rio Brazos Art Exhibition. ($1000.00)
2020 1st Place Mixed Media Award, The Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene, TX, Awarded by Thomas Motley Dallas/FortWorth-based painter and Professor Emeritus, Art & Art History, Richland College, Dallas, and Megan Dobbs Executive Director for the Center. ($500.00)
2020 Honorable Mention Award, Material II, d’Arts Center, Norfolk, VA. Awarded by Liana Graham Visual Arts Department Chair at the Governor’s School for the Arts.
2019 Home and Place Merit Awards, Glen Arbor Art Center. Awarded by Linda J. Beeman ($175.00)
2019 3rd Place, Odds and Ends, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Juror: John Gutoskey ($250.00)
2017 John and Susan Berding Family Foundation Master of Fine Arts Prize, Eli and Edythe Broad art Museum at Michigan State University. Awarded by Janet Dees Curator, Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University ($5,000)
2017 Varg-Sullivan Graduate Award in Arts & Letters, College of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University. ($2,600)
2017 Research/Professional Development Fellowship Grant, College of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University. ($1,600)
2016 Graduate School Dissertation Completion Fellowship Grant, College of Arts and Letters, Michigan State University. ($6,000)
2016 Special College Research Abroad Money (SCRAM) Fellowship Grant, College of Arts & Letters, Michigan State University. ($3,000)
2016 Research/Professional Development Fellowship Grant, College of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University. ($2,000)
2016 Research/Professional Development Fellowship Grant, College of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University. ($2,000)
2015 College of Arts and Letters Summer Support Fellowship Grant, College of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University. ($5,000)
2015 MFA Winner - Purchase Award, Student Art Competition Award, Michigan State University Libraries. ($500)
2014-16 Graduate Teaching Assistantship Fellowship, College of Art, Art History, and Design, Michigan State University.
2011 1st Place, Director’s Choice Award, “ArtWear”, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2011 1st Place, Best Contemporary Design Award, “ArtWear”, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2010 2nd Place, Judges’ Choice Award, Go Red Fashion Show, sponsored by Women’s American Heart Association, Texas Women’s University, Denton, TX.
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2016 In-situ Installation and Residency, La Triennale Internationale des Arts Textiles, Moon Rain Centre for Textile Arts, Quebec, Canada. (nationally competitive)
COLLECTIONS
Michigan State University Libraries, East Lansing.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Emerging Artists Showcase.” Fiber Art Now, Vol 8. Issue 3, Spring 2019, pg44
“MFA Exhibition Features Work of Five Artist”, Michigan State University / College of Arts and Letter, Web Article, March 16, 2017. http”//www.cal.msu,edu/news/2017MFAExhibition.com
Drzazgowski, Alexandria Rose, “MFA Candidate Explores SCIENTIFIC interests Through Art”, Michigan State University / College of Arts and Letters, web article, March8, 2017. http://www.cal.msu.edu/nes/ExploringScienticInterestsThroughArt.com
Mason, Kirk, “Power of Investing In Graduate Education”, Michigan State University / College of Arts and Letters, graduate education video, March 13, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5Y5-mKyLA.com
General Inquiries
— I’d love to hear from you