Painter and digital artist Adrian Franks presented a series of creative works through his first solo project Suspicious Prisms + FEARLESS. The entire body of work is compromised of both paint and digital images on everything from canvas to Masonite pegboard. On Saturday, February 1 Suspicious Prisms + FEARLESS made its debut at the Sweet Lorraine Gallery in Brooklyn.
Franks described the process of creating the series:
“When I started the FEARLESS series, my main goal was to highlight people who embodied what it means to be brave, bold and strong… a true hero and a champion for all people. Whether they were sacrificing for what is right or dream chasing. I wanted the series to showcase what made these individuals truly vivid.”
The concept Suspicious Prisms + FEARLESS was inspired by his wife, Nicole. She requested a silhouette portrait and as he worked on the painting he was inspired by her accomplishments. Franks then recruited individuals who were” bold and fearlessly fulfilling their dreams”
In addition to the portraits of the bold and fearless, Franks pays tribute to Brooklyn and hip-hop with odes to Biggie.
There is a clear social component with each of the multimedia pieces. Green and orange images of Jonathan Ferrell a student athlete at Florida A&M University who was unarmed, shot and killed by a police officer while he was seeking help after being in a car accident.
Franks incorporated digital images of Arizona Iced Tea, gun props and color dots symbolizing target shooting holes signaling the Trayvon Martin.
Franks’ series is a beautiful translation of frustration and outrage.
