I was born in Brooklyn, New York. My first art exhibits were held in my mother’s kitchen. Her patronage was invaluable and carried me through to my art studies at Brooklyn College, N.Y.C. There, I studied with Ad Reinhardt, Philip Pearlstein, Albert Terris, and Jimmy Ernst, obtaining a B.A. fine arts and a M.A. Art Ed. These artist-instructors significantly influenced my love of color, form and design. I also studied stone carving at Montoya Studios, Palm Beach, FL.
My art career included 15 years as an art teacher: five years in New York and ten years in Florida. I now reside in Boca Raton, Florida. I earned a post-graduate ED.S degree from Nova University, Davie, FL for SLD instruction. Many of my Florida art students were new residents in the U.S.A. and often shared their multi-cultural artistic experiences. The discovery of Chinese Zhe Zhi modular paper folding was such a cultural experience taught to me by one of my art students. Now, after researching the technique, working in this unique paper medium allows me to create my own sculptural forms and give a singular voice to the unity of many.
Some of my paper sculptures are currently represented by Paseo Originals Art Gallery, Oklahoma City. OK. Recently, three paper sculptures were leased to The Scripps Research Center, Jupiter, Florida: Nexus: Science + Art ‘09,’10,’11,’12; My work has been juried into many exhibitions in Massachusetts, Michigan, Oklahoma and Florida, including: The Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, City Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI, The Rosen Gallery International Biennial, ‘08,’10,’12; The Armory Art Center; The Von Liebig Art Center; Rossetti Fine Art Gallery, The Artist’s Guild Gallery; The 110 Art Gallery; Cornell Museum-Crest Theater; 2010 Biennial- Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL and The 2011 - 60th Annual - All Florida Exhibition and Competition at the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
I have numerous first place awards and a great many other honors. My work has received the First Place Award at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, 2010 Biennial, in Boca Raton, Florida. Also, my portfolio of work has been awarded the Mastermind Art Grant for South Florida; The Art Craft Award for Sculpture: Rosen Gallery “Biennial 2012”; Best in Show at Delray Beach “On the Avenue December, 2011” and Best in Show and People’s Choice at Rossetti Fine Art Gallery,” Summer Heat” Juried Exhibition Aug.2012. I have lectured on the history and technique of Chinese Zhe Zhi paper sculpture to various professional art groups. My portfolio may be seen on the web at www.francenelevinson.com. The possibilities are endless. The exploration is engaging. The results are inspiring.