Wayne Francis

"My work delves into that magical, whimsical realm of the artist as interpreter of the human experience. I use art to depict that place where humans, animals and spirits come together in the natural world around us. The sculptural forms in my work are simplified and stripped to their bare lines, often abstracted and combined with a variety of symbols and natural materials to create a link between ancient and contemporary art. The wall pieces act as portals into a world of myth and mystery. For me making art is a dance, with each step of the process bringing me closer to the final intent of the piece. I see my work as a struggle to depict the world around us, both seen and unseen."

Wayne Francis was born in 1949 in Northern Pennsylvania. He received his B.S. degree from Mansfield State University in Pennsylvania, studied sculpture at Portland State University and received his M.A. from Northern Michigan University. He taught High School in Hawaii and furniture making at Northwestern State University in Louisiana and was the Director of the Art Museum and Performing Arts Series at Northern Michigan University from 1985 – 2007. He and his wife Isabel then sailed their boat from Lake Superior to the Bahamas He is now a full time artist and musician and divides his time between Marquette Michigan and Pine Island Florida. His work is in numerous public and private collections.