photo © Michael Jackson
|
RUTH FRANKLIN is an English painter who lives in the American Deep South. She grew up in East Anglia and studied at Brighton Art School in the eighties. Ruth paints seven days a week at her Decatur, Georgia studio - six miles east of downtown Atlanta. She's twice been voted Best Established Visual Artist by the readers of Creative Loafing, was nominated for the USA Artists Fellowship in 2016, and has exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Arts of Georgia. Her work has appeared in several films and television shows, including the 2017 movie Baby Driver and the Vampire Diaries tv series.
|
paintings
drawings
News
- May 2023: DIFFERENT TRAINS GALLERY returns with a Pop!
- May 2022: Atlanta painter Ruth Franklin goes deep into portraiture, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- June 2022: Cullum's Notebook, ArtsATL
- June 2022: What to see, do and hear, ArtsATL
- July 2021: Gallery snapshot, Different Trains, ArtsATL
- Feb 2017: Harlem Fine Arts Show NYC
- 2016: Nominated for a United States Artists Fellowship.
- August 2013: Review, Georgia artists at MocaGA
- Ruth contributed to the Secret 7" exhibition & sale in London, benefitting Amnesty International UK.
- FACES of Atlanta - The StyleBlueprint interviewed Ruth Franklin. A compelling interview...
CV
education
1986: B.A. Fine Art/Painting, Brighton Art School, East Sussex, England
1982: Lowestoft College of Art, Suffolk, England
selected exhibitions & galleries
2021
5 Atlanta Artists POP-UP Show, The Waddi Atlanta, 23-25 April 2021
Black & White Works, Different Trains Gallery, January - March, 2021
2020
Searching for Home, group exhibition at The Dalton Gallery of Agnes Scott College, September 3 - December 12, 2020
Wood at the Waddi, group exhibition, Waddi ATL, Atlanta, Georgia, March 20 - May 2, 2020
2019
ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, one-woman show, Different Trains Gallery, 12 April - 22 June
2016
Secret 7", group show & sale to benefit Amnesty International UK, Sonos Studio, London, 8 Apr - 2 May
2015
Painting Out Loud, one-woman-show, Steve Mckenzie’s, Atlanta GA
The Big Pop Up - Decatur, Jun 12, group show w/ Kosmo Vinyl & Wreckless Eric, East Decatur Station
2014
Group exhibition of women artists, Bennett Gallery, Nashville TN
2013
ArtPrize 2013, Sep 18 - Oct 6, Grand Rapids MI
Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists, Jun 22 - Aug 24, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, Atlanta
Harlem Fine Arts Show - Feb 7-10, Historic Riverside Church, New York NY
2012
Raw Art Fair, Rotterdam, Netherlands - Dex Gallery
Anticipation, group show, dk Gallery, Marietta GA
2011
Decatur OPEN STUDIO, Decatur GA
The 16th Anniversary Show, Matre Gallery, Atlanta GA
Two-artist-show with Gary Goodman, The Basement Gallery, Boise ID
2010
Ruth Franklin/Byron Gin: New Work, Apr 23 - May 31, Adam Cave Gallery, Raleigh NC
2009
One Woman Show of Paintings, Hrefna Jonsdottir Gallery, Lambertville NJ
2008
One-woman-show for ATLart[08], Vinson Gallery, Decatur GA
2005
One-Woman-Show of Paintings & Drawings, Vinson Gallery
2004
AAF Contemporary Art Fair - NYC, Gallery 71
Under Different Circumstances, group show for ATLart[04], Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
2002
Hartman & Hartman Galerie, Gorinchem, Netherlands, Group Show
1998
One Woman Show Gallery 71, New York NY
1996
Art, Arte, Kunst, Olympic Pop-Up Show, Luckie Street, Atlanta
One Woman Show Gallery 71, New York NY
Art Focus Gallery, Centrepoint, Singapore
Galerie Ruetz, Munich, Germany
Gallerie Naif, Tokyo, Japan
1992
Summer Exhibition , Riviera Gallery, East Sussex, England
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, East Sussex, England
1991
Rye Art Gallery, East Sussex, England
Seen Galleries, Ltd., London
Northstore Gallery, four artist collective, East Sussex, England
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, East Sussex, England
1990
Riviera Gallery, East Sussex, England, Summer Exhibition
1986
Cirencester Art Gallery, West Sussex, England
Pig and Fig Gallery, Brighton, England
1979
Steeple End Gallery, Suffolk, England
private & corporate collections
ASCAP - Nashville
AT&T – Atlanta
City of Decatur, Georgia
Deloitte & Touche – Tampa
Echo Media Group - Atlanta
Eric Goulden (aka Wreckless Eric) & Amy Rigby, musicians, Catskill NY
Luzene Hill, multi-media installation artist, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Atlanta
Diane Jackson, DDB Chicago
Lennie James, actor, screenwriter & playwright, Los Angeles CA
Naomi & Wynonna Judd, Franklin TN
King & Spalding - Atlanta
Larson-Juhl
Lenz – Decatur
Lightroom, multidisciplinary design & architecture, Decatur GA
Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Palmer, Windermere FL
Price Waterhouse - Tampa
Roedean Girls School, East Sussex, England
Victoria Sanders & Associates, New York
Karin Slaughter, author, Atlanta
Robert & Lu Steed, Atlanta
Stockwell Films, London
Universal Studios Florida - Orlando
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kosmo Vinyl, artist & cultural curator, New York
Daren Wang, Executive Director of Decatur Book Festival, Decatur GA
donations
Amnesty International UK
Art Papers
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
The Hambidge Center, creative residency program
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Waterkeeper Alliance
commissions
Agnes Scott College, Decatur GA - Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Gifts,
City of Decatur, Georgia
Dynamics of the Impromptu, live trio recordings of John Stevens, Derek Bailey & Trevor Watts - CD cover art
Hear Now, a film by Mark French - DVD cover art
Paramount Famous Productions
Universal Studios Florida
Veracity, solo alto saxophone recordings by Trevor Watts - CD cover art
Verb Vol. 2, No. 2, 2007 - an audio literary magazine by America’s top writers - CD cover art
awards
2014: Best Established Visual Artist - Creative Loafing Atlanta
1986: B.A. Fine Art/Painting, Brighton Art School, East Sussex, England
1982: Lowestoft College of Art, Suffolk, England
selected exhibitions & galleries
2021
5 Atlanta Artists POP-UP Show, The Waddi Atlanta, 23-25 April 2021
Black & White Works, Different Trains Gallery, January - March, 2021
2020
Searching for Home, group exhibition at The Dalton Gallery of Agnes Scott College, September 3 - December 12, 2020
Wood at the Waddi, group exhibition, Waddi ATL, Atlanta, Georgia, March 20 - May 2, 2020
2019
ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, one-woman show, Different Trains Gallery, 12 April - 22 June
2016
Secret 7", group show & sale to benefit Amnesty International UK, Sonos Studio, London, 8 Apr - 2 May
2015
Painting Out Loud, one-woman-show, Steve Mckenzie’s, Atlanta GA
The Big Pop Up - Decatur, Jun 12, group show w/ Kosmo Vinyl & Wreckless Eric, East Decatur Station
2014
Group exhibition of women artists, Bennett Gallery, Nashville TN
2013
ArtPrize 2013, Sep 18 - Oct 6, Grand Rapids MI
Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists, Jun 22 - Aug 24, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, Atlanta
Harlem Fine Arts Show - Feb 7-10, Historic Riverside Church, New York NY
2012
Raw Art Fair, Rotterdam, Netherlands - Dex Gallery
Anticipation, group show, dk Gallery, Marietta GA
2011
Decatur OPEN STUDIO, Decatur GA
The 16th Anniversary Show, Matre Gallery, Atlanta GA
Two-artist-show with Gary Goodman, The Basement Gallery, Boise ID
2010
Ruth Franklin/Byron Gin: New Work, Apr 23 - May 31, Adam Cave Gallery, Raleigh NC
2009
One Woman Show of Paintings, Hrefna Jonsdottir Gallery, Lambertville NJ
2008
One-woman-show for ATLart[08], Vinson Gallery, Decatur GA
2005
One-Woman-Show of Paintings & Drawings, Vinson Gallery
2004
AAF Contemporary Art Fair - NYC, Gallery 71
Under Different Circumstances, group show for ATLart[04], Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
2002
Hartman & Hartman Galerie, Gorinchem, Netherlands, Group Show
1998
One Woman Show Gallery 71, New York NY
1996
Art, Arte, Kunst, Olympic Pop-Up Show, Luckie Street, Atlanta
One Woman Show Gallery 71, New York NY
Art Focus Gallery, Centrepoint, Singapore
Galerie Ruetz, Munich, Germany
Gallerie Naif, Tokyo, Japan
1992
Summer Exhibition , Riviera Gallery, East Sussex, England
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, East Sussex, England
1991
Rye Art Gallery, East Sussex, England
Seen Galleries, Ltd., London
Northstore Gallery, four artist collective, East Sussex, England
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, East Sussex, England
1990
Riviera Gallery, East Sussex, England, Summer Exhibition
1986
Cirencester Art Gallery, West Sussex, England
Pig and Fig Gallery, Brighton, England
1979
Steeple End Gallery, Suffolk, England
private & corporate collections
ASCAP - Nashville
AT&T – Atlanta
City of Decatur, Georgia
Deloitte & Touche – Tampa
Echo Media Group - Atlanta
Eric Goulden (aka Wreckless Eric) & Amy Rigby, musicians, Catskill NY
Luzene Hill, multi-media installation artist, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Atlanta
Diane Jackson, DDB Chicago
Lennie James, actor, screenwriter & playwright, Los Angeles CA
Naomi & Wynonna Judd, Franklin TN
King & Spalding - Atlanta
Larson-Juhl
Lenz – Decatur
Lightroom, multidisciplinary design & architecture, Decatur GA
Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Palmer, Windermere FL
Price Waterhouse - Tampa
Roedean Girls School, East Sussex, England
Victoria Sanders & Associates, New York
Karin Slaughter, author, Atlanta
Robert & Lu Steed, Atlanta
Stockwell Films, London
Universal Studios Florida - Orlando
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kosmo Vinyl, artist & cultural curator, New York
Daren Wang, Executive Director of Decatur Book Festival, Decatur GA
donations
Amnesty International UK
Art Papers
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
The Hambidge Center, creative residency program
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Waterkeeper Alliance
commissions
Agnes Scott College, Decatur GA - Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Gifts,
City of Decatur, Georgia
Dynamics of the Impromptu, live trio recordings of John Stevens, Derek Bailey & Trevor Watts - CD cover art
Hear Now, a film by Mark French - DVD cover art
Paramount Famous Productions
Universal Studios Florida
Veracity, solo alto saxophone recordings by Trevor Watts - CD cover art
Verb Vol. 2, No. 2, 2007 - an audio literary magazine by America’s top writers - CD cover art
awards
2014: Best Established Visual Artist - Creative Loafing Atlanta
Press & media coverage
VISUAL ARTS: OBJECT LESSONS: NEAT THINGS ON VIEW AROUND TOWN by : CATHERINE FOX
Staff | DATE: November 23, 2003 | PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) | EDITION: Home; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | SECTION: Arts | PAGE: K15
Diane Arbus as unsettling muse
Like many artists, Ruth Franklin uses other art to jump-start her own. For the paintings and charcoals in her lovely exhibition at Shawn Vinson Gallery (including the works above), she started with family snapshots, old master paintings and, most frequently and potently, the photos of Diane Arbus.
The late Arbus earned fame with discomfiting black-and-white photographs of people, often those marginalized in society. Franklin feels an empathy for Arbus' subjects, which comes out in her wonderful charcoal drawings -- a mix of careful description and elliptical line that emanates dignity. But when she makes a painting, she becomes more involved in the process of painting than in the subject. She introduces color, applied in broad, brushy strokes that render faces (critical to the Arbus effect) indistinct. Sometimes, she turns the photo upside down.It's hard to know whether familiarity with the Arbus oeuvre affects how one reads these paintings. It seems that some of the individual subjects' oddness remains, especially in the awkward gestures of the mental institution patients. The tension between the tone and the juicy paint makes for interesting viewing. Through Nov. 29. 119 E. Court Square, Decatur. 404-370-1720
Staff | DATE: November 23, 2003 | PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) | EDITION: Home; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | SECTION: Arts | PAGE: K15
Diane Arbus as unsettling muse
Like many artists, Ruth Franklin uses other art to jump-start her own. For the paintings and charcoals in her lovely exhibition at Shawn Vinson Gallery (including the works above), she started with family snapshots, old master paintings and, most frequently and potently, the photos of Diane Arbus.
The late Arbus earned fame with discomfiting black-and-white photographs of people, often those marginalized in society. Franklin feels an empathy for Arbus' subjects, which comes out in her wonderful charcoal drawings -- a mix of careful description and elliptical line that emanates dignity. But when she makes a painting, she becomes more involved in the process of painting than in the subject. She introduces color, applied in broad, brushy strokes that render faces (critical to the Arbus effect) indistinct. Sometimes, she turns the photo upside down.It's hard to know whether familiarity with the Arbus oeuvre affects how one reads these paintings. It seems that some of the individual subjects' oddness remains, especially in the awkward gestures of the mental institution patients. The tension between the tone and the juicy paint makes for interesting viewing. Through Nov. 29. 119 E. Court Square, Decatur. 404-370-1720
