Arteles Catalogue 2023-2020

Fall into Focus program / SEPTEMBER 2023
Franki Sparke
Australia
frankisparke.com.au
About
I am an Australian visual artist, primarily a printmaker and
illustrator. For over forty years I have exhibited and made
public artworks in my home town of Canberra, Australia,
while my work has been represented at international events
such as the Krakow Print Triennial, the Guanlan Print Biennial
and the Bologna Children's Book Fair. I have won illustration
awards in Australia, UK, Italy and South Korea.
I have an ongoing interest in all kinds of print, pictographic
elements and picture narratives in the visual arts, books and
comics - for both adults and children.
New Characters
I came to Arteles to reboot and to lay the groundwork for
one major, narrative project in particular. Of course I was
pleasantly derailed - by people and events and by other visual
elements and narratives. In the end, an invented geography,
new plots and characters were my main take-away. Also
minor characters trying to become big players, like these
cockatoos here, who are now demanding (and getting) their
own story . . .
My current focus is on just a few significant personal projects
involving graphic narratives and independent publishing.