American artist Lucy Fradkin is known for vibrant mixed-media paintings that delve into themes of identity, culture, and domestic experience. Her work is characterized by a rich use of materials, combining acrylic gouache, collage, and fabric to create textured, three-dimensional works. Fradkin’s inspirations are as diverse as they are profound, ranging from the frescoes of Etruria and Rome, the mosaics of Byzantium, and the delicate beauty of Indian and Persian miniatures to vintage catalogs from the 1940s and 1950s. Although her work is rooted in traditional influences, Fradkin deftly intertwines her personal history, subtly exploring themes of gender and race with a nuanced and understated approach.

During her first residency at Tamarind Institute, Fradkin collaborated with Master Printer Valpuri Remling and Apprentice Printer Arikah Lynne Conant, creating two lithographs that depict the artist’s husband and muse, the Jamaican-born sculptor Arthur Simms. The use of collage featured in both Dear Esther and Arthur with Flowers echoes the vintage catalogs from the 1940s and 1950s used throughout her practice. The flat perspective and intricate patterns of the lithographs highlight the Byzantine influence, bringing a timeless and sacred quality to the portraits. Fradkin’s ability to merge the personal with the universal elevates her work beyond mere portraiture, as she masterfully captures the essence of her subjects.

Her awards include grants from Pollock-Krasner, the Gottlieb Foundation, the Sharpe Foundation, and two NYFA Fellowships. She has exhibited at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the American Academy in Rome, and many other national and international venues.

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