About

Autumn 2021

2023 Artist Bio

Frances Byrd is a portrait artist from Florida’s historic coast, living in the Georgia Piedmont. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1997. Her bold and dynamic painting style, combined with a passion for female empowerment, have resulted in a portfolio of narrative portraits that capture the unique personalities of her models.

In 2021, one of her self-portraits was purchased for the permanent collection at The Hudgens Center for Art and Learning in Duluth, Georgia. Her nature-based public works are on display in Gainesville, Atlanta, and multiple locations around Jackson County, Georgia. She has received awards from the Atlanta branch of the National League of American Pen Women, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Georgia Art League, Hoschton Heritage Arts Council, and Tannery Row Artists Colony. In 2022, Frances launched her portfolio of Wild Woman Portraits during the Winter Exhibitions at The Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, Georgia.

Over the years, Frances has volunteered on the Jackson County Arts Council as a board member, as well as the planning committee for the Folk to Fine Arts Festival in Commerce, Georgia. Previously a stay-at-home mom, she brings all of these experiences to her current goal of becoming a full-time professional artist.

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Professional Summary

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration The Savannah College of Art and Design 1997

Awards

2012 Reflections, Atlanta Branch National League of American Pen Women Juried Show, 3^rd Place

2015 Quinlan Members Show Honorable Mention

2018 Georgia Art League Show 2^nd Place

2019 Hoschton Heritage Arts Council Annual Juried Show 2^nd Place

2021 Hudgens Center Members Show Purchase Prize

Events

2009 – 2011 Art Papers Annual Gala, Participating Artist and donor

2010 Music and Me Juried Show @ Tannery Row Artist Colony, Buford

The Joy of Six Juried Show @ Tannery Row Artist Colony, Buford

2011 2^nd Annual Glenn Pelham Foundation Fundraising Gala donor and guest artist

2013 & 2014 Painted Backdrops and Event Volunteer for Jackson County Arts Council Annual Gala

2014 & 2015 Folk to Fine Arts Juried Show Participating Artist and Volunteer

2014 – 2016 Family Outdoor Expo Annual Human Trafficking Awareness and Fundraising Event, Participating Artist and Donor

2014 – 2019 Quinlan Visual Arts Center Annual Gala, Participating Artist and donor

2015 Quinlan Visual Arts Center Annual Gala Participating Artist and donor

2015 Atlanta Branch National League of American Pen Women Juried Show at Quinlan Visual Arts Center

2015 Solo Show at Commerce Public Library

2016 & 2018 Quinlan Visual Arts Center Juried Folk Art Show Participating Artist

2017 Jackson County Arts Council Juried Art Show and Gala Participating Artist

2017 Solo Show at Commerce Public Library

2019 Hudgens Center Annual Gala, donating artist

2019 Sugar Hill Arts Commission Juried Show Participating Artist

2020 Monroe Walton Center for the Arts Regional Juried Show Participating Artist

2021 OCAF Cut & Paste: The Art of Collage and Assemblage Participating Artist

2021 Mural Competition, Duckin’ Fabulous Award @ Strange Duck Brewing

2022 Solo Show @ Strange Duck Brewing

2022 OCAF Members Show

2022 OCAF Juried Figuratively Speaking Show

2022 Braselton, GA ART-Rageous Live Mural Painting Event

2022 Big Ink Printmaking Event hosted by the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning

2022-23 Hudgens Center for Art and Learning Annual Juried Members Show

2022-23 Wild Woman Portraits @ Quinlan Visual Arts Center Winter Exhibitions

Public Art
Atlanta Intown Art Box Project 2012

Jackson County Chamber Geocache Project Organizer and Participating Artist 2014

Commerce, GA Scarecrow Photo Booth @ Downtown Development Authority 2014

Gainesville, GA Vision 2030 Public Mural Project on the Greenway 2016

Commerce, GA Water Walk Protect; painted fire hydrants for Jackson County Arts Council and City Hall 2017

Atlanta, GA Button Art.org Installation sponsored by Spring Hall Event Venue at 7130 Buford Hwy NE, Suite A 2021

Gainesville, GA Vision 2030 Public Mural Project on the Longstreet Clinic Parking Deck

Commerce, GA Strange Duck Brewing Mural

Braselton, GA Art Squared Mural Installation on Hwy 53 at The Braselton Brothers Building

Boards
Jackson County Arts Council 2013 – 2016

Folk to Fine Arts Festival, Commerce, GA 2014 & 2015

Workshops
Positivity Journaling, Mixed Media Techniques, Paper Clay Sculpture

Mentoring
Elementary Level Art Class and Camps for Garden of Discovery Montessori School

Art Badge Workshops for Commerce Boy Scout Troop

Studio Apprenticeships for Foster Children

Professional Services

Commissions: fine art, portraiture, murals, illustration

Copy Writing: Artist Statements, Web Copy and Profiles, Exhibition Proposals

Consulting: Proof-Reading and Editing, Content Creation, Portfolio Development

birdlady@francesbyrd.art