Frances Jemini

I grew up watching my mother create art out of paper, cardboard, fabric, oil paints - you name it - and have thus tended towards artistic interests my whole life. It led me to study architecture at Virginia Tech, which is where I began creating acrylics and mixed-media artwork. 

My style has been described as original abstract art, with expressionist, surrealist, and geometric tendencies. Centering mainly on the use of bold colors and deep textures, my paintings clearly reflect my architectural background. The riding theme of 'juxtaposition' is prevalent in much of my work. 

As art supply prices continued to rise, I realized that if I wanted to continue to make art, I was going to have to get creative when it came to sourcing materials. Much of my art utilizes reused and recycled materials and metal that I find on the ground or scavenge from a variety of sources. I take apart old electronics, get "junk drawer" donations from friends, and find odd assortments of construction materials and old tools from flea markets. From this I am able to create all sorts of upcycled and found-object artwork and sculptures.

When it comes to what inspires me, being an avid reader, much of my artwork features themes from science fiction and fantasy books and even some of the classics. I also draw on many movies, graphic novels, comics, cartoons, pop culture, and media. 

I love to incorporate avant-garde materials into my upcycled and found-object artwork and sculptures and if I can reuse or upcycle something, all the better. My multi-media artwork consist of all kinds of upcycled and found-objects including cardboard, sheet vinyl, plastic packaging, old credit cards, string, wires, old computer parts, and lots and lots of found metal tools, autobody & machine parts, screws, nails, bolts, gears, washers, pins, springs, and so on. I have quite a collection!