Juan Franco
Independent Artist, Writer, & Curator // Freelance Photographer
Biography
Juan Franco was born in Bogotá, Colombia. They learned creativity by example, through the endless talents of their mother. As an only child, they spent countless hours playing with Legos and their parents’ architectural tools. They currently live in Seattle pursuing a Master of Art in Art History at the University of Washington.
Statement of Practice
I use my labor to produce events, objects, texts, and images. I am an artist, a writer, and a curator. In the lineage of photography and performance, my labor reproduces and remixes what already exists. I do not seek novelty. I recover visual and literary methodologies to deconstruct systematic structures that damage my identities. In doing so, I reject their legacy.
My research focuses on modern and contemporary photography and performance. I work to localize these media within my Latinx identity and heritage. In doing so, I aim to dismantle methods in which Contemporary Art™upholds white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism.
Education
In progress
Master of Arts in Art History
University of Washington
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art
Summa Cum Laude
Cornish College of the Arts
Contact
email [at] juanfran.co
+1 206.571.7176
︎ @juanfran.co
Pieta Colombiana
Venus & David
Studies from the Studio
Maiah Manser
Second Skin EP
CV
+1 206.571.7176
email [at] juanfran.co
www.juanfran.co
EDUCATION
In progress
Master of Arts in Art History
University of Washington
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Photography, Art History)
Cornish College of the Arts
2010 - 2014
Summa Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL
Current2017- Teaching Artist, Youth in Focus, Seattle, WA
2014- Independent Artist, Writer, & Curator
2014- Freelance Photographer
Past
2016-17 Volunteer Mentor, Youth in Focus, Seattle, WA
2012-17 Dramaturge, Modern Recollections, Seattle, WA
2012-13 Photography Lab Technician, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
2012-13 Development Department Assistant, Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA
2010-17 Shift Supervisor, Starbucks, Seattle, WA
SOLO & TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2017 Aren’t You Glad, Make.Shift Gallery, Bellingham, WA
2016 A Need of Space, The Factory, Seattle, WA
2016 Seven Seconds, The Standard Goods, Seattle, WA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2015 Struggle + Strength, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
2015 Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival, Rose Lipman Building, London, UK
2015 Erasure, Lion’s Main Art Collective, TK Artist Lofts, Seattle, WA
2015 12 Seconds Max, The Factory, Seattle, WA
2015 prose / pose, Yellow Fish // Epic Durational Performance Festival, Seattle, WA
2014 Cornish College of the Arts & Fred Hutchinson Partnership, Fred Hutch, Seattle
2014 EXPO 2014, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2014 Portraits of Pride, Gay City Health Gallery, Seattle
2013 Sweetbreads, New York Student Residency Program, 20 Jay Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Merit Scholarship Show, L-Space, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2013 Polari, True Love Art Gallery, Seattle
2013 Portraits of Pride, Gay City Health Gallery, Seattle
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
2017- Photographic Center Northwest
2017- W.A.G.E Coalition
2017- College Art Association
RESIDENCIES
2016 CoCA Lab Artists in Residence Program, Modern Recollections, Seattle
2015 Cornish Playhouse Arts Incubator Residency, Modern Recollections, Seattle
2013 New York Student Residency Program, Brooklyn
AWARDS
2013 WORD Symposium, Third Prize, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2013 Kindler and Johnson Visual Art Scholarship, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2013 Cornish Scholarship, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2013 Utrecht Art Supplies Annual Merit Scholarship, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2012 WORD Symposium, Second Prize, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2012 Richard Gilman Scholarship, Painting & Fine Arts, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2012 Cornish Scholarship, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2012 Greater Seattle Business Association Scholarship, GSBA, Seattle
2011 Jon & Mary Shirley Foundation Endowed Scholarship, Cornish College of the Arts,
2011 Kreielsheimer Foundation Scholarship, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
2011 Pride Foundation Scholarship, Pride Foundation, Seattle
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2014-16 Studio.B1, TK Artist Lofts, Seattle, WA
2012-13 The Closet Gallery, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle
PUBLICATIONS