FRANCIS DIFRONZO
About Francis DiFronzo
The distinctive paintings of Francis DiFronzo, portray the natural world with a sense of romance and mystery. It is also said that his work presents an uncomfortable mix of nostalgia and lamentation of the post-industrial American landscape. Adding further complexity to the diverse interpretations of his work, he blurs the line between truth and fiction by using trompe l’oeil techniques. He creates visual illusions to trick the eye into perceiving a painted detail as three-dimensional to reveal a convincing perspective of an imagined place.
DiFronzo's pensive paintings are rife with both unseen and deeply felt forces: seemingly paradoxical impulses that are integral to his work. Though quite a few of DiFronzo's paintings contain recognizably western elements, he's just as influenced by the east coast as the west.
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Born in California, DiFronzo received his BFA at the University of California, Fullerton, before moving to Philadelphia to attain a Master's degree at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
DiFronzo transforms the ephemera of American landscapes into visions of unwavering intensity, convincing us that even the most unassuming territory is never as straightforward as it initially appears. Eschewing nostalgia and ornamentation, DiFronzo makes deceptively, marvelously complex work that allows us to see more and further than we thought we could.
Selected Awards and Honors
Pew Fellowship in the Arts, Painting, 2004
Stobart Foundation Fellowship in the Arts, 1998
Liquitex/Art in America University Award, 1993
Education
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: MFA
California State University, Fullerton: BFA
Available Work
Archive: Sold
The Mystery, Part 5
Last Light, Part 7
Zero Hour, Part 3
While Far Off Stars Quiver, Blinking Dire Messages in Code
Desert Stars, Part 3
The Guest, Part 2
Crossing Paths, Part 3
Proof of Life, Part 2
At Sunset, Part 4
Haley's Comet, Come and Gone
No Stars
After Hours, Part 3
Study for Im Abendrot
Where Are We Now, Part 2
The Golden Hour, Part 3
The Messenger
The Sleepers Dark, Part 4
Peter and The Wolf
When the Night Came and Took Us, Part 3
Coupled, part 6
After Hours
Drifting, Part 9
Long Ago
The Last Chance
Sentinels
The Mystery
The Station
The Crossing, Part 9
The Passenger
At Sunset, part 5
Proof Of Life
Study for Signs of Life
At Twilight
Coupled part 1
Heroes and Ghosts
Drifting Floating, part 5
Last Chance
Nothing Starts Tomorrow, part 7
Roys, Dawn
Rivals, part 2
The Prospector, part 7
The Night is Always Falling, part 1
The Valley of Shadow, part 1
Parts Unknown
