Artist Bio
Born in Japan in 1949, Franne has been immersed in art since childhood. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and later continued her education at Trenton State College, majoring in art with a minor in art history. Art has remained a constant throughout her life—woven into painting, drawing, photography, jewelry making, sewing, cooking, and more. She believes creativity is fundamental to the human experience and that everyone holds the spark of an artist within.
As both a lifelong learner and teacher, Franne shares her passion for exploration through classes and workshops. She has authored and taught three courses—Art from the Heart, What’s on Your Palette? Basic Color Theory for Aspiring Artists and Acrylics Basics. Her teaching style encourages curiosity, playfulness, and a willingness to truly look and see. She has taught at OLLI-RU (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University), Perkins Center for the Arts, Sacred U, and privately from her home studio. She also hosts a Zoom-based acrylic painting studio and, since 2024, has been teaching at the Franklin Township Youth Center.
Franne’s artwork has been exhibited across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and online. She has earned First Prize for Pastels and Best in Show at the Somerset County Senior Art Show, as well as First Prize for Acrylics at the New Jersey State Senior Art Show. Recent highlights include the Phenomenal Women exhibition at El Barrio Art Space in New York City, a 2022 solo show at Gonzo Glass in Mount Holly, NJ, and group exhibitions with the Staube Center, the Garden State Watercolor Society, the West Windsor Arts Council, and the Dupree Gallery in Lambertville, NJ. She has also been selected for CAFed’s upcoming women’s exhibition My Art, My Voice, Our Zen at Taller Boricua Gallery in New York City.