2025 August Chiaroscuro by Anthony Franklin

Chiaroscuro: Mastery of Light and Shadow, works by Anthony Franklin

Exhibition month:
• Opening Reception: Thursday, August 7 5 PM to 7 PM
• Location: FMAAA Art Center, Fort Madison, IA
• Lunch ala Art noon | gallery talk 12:30pm: Friday, August 22
• Exhibition viewing: August 1 - 30

The Fort Madison Area Artists Association is thrilled to announce the opening of art exhibition Chiaroscuro: Mastery of Light and Shadow featuring the evocative charcoal work of local visual artist and current President of the Iowa Artist’s Association, Anthony Franklin. The exhibition Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, August 7, from 5 PM to 7 PM at the FMAAA Art Center located at 825 Avenue G in Fort Madison, Iowa. Join us for an evening of art and inspiration as we celebrate the opening of this exceptional exhibition. Light refreshments will be served. This exhibition will be available for viewing Saturday, August 2 through Saturday, August 30. The FMAAA Art Center would like to thank Josh Denning Ameriprise Financial for their generous support for this month’s exhibition.
Anthony Franklin, a celebrated artist known for his dramatic use of light and shadow, will showcase a collection of his latest works in graphite and charcoal. His pieces, deeply rooted in the traditions of chiaroscuro and tenebrism, capture the subtle and striking contrasts of life, evoking strong emotional responses from viewers.
The collection on display features several themes of work. Lovely portraits range through family, friends, and the famous. Fantastic renderings of animals – both fur and fowl – include notable depictions of a rodeo horse in action, an Amish team of horses, and an amazingly photo realistic Eurasian owl. Franklin also explores works of his own inspiration. His artwork ranges from smaller intimate pieces to large scale. He imbues his pieces with strong variations of tone and high contrast, skillfully exploring his technique. Several of the pieces in this collection are destined for future exhibitions or have been award winning, and as such are not for sale. However, Franklin is offering the opportunity to purchase prints of most of his work, making for an affordable way to collect some terrific pieces.
Born and raised in Fort Madison, Franklin began his artistic journey at a young age and has since developed a unique style that blends classical techniques with modern themes. Influenced by masters such as Degas, Cassatt, Caravaggio, and Gentileschi, his work invites reflection and offers a timeless yet immediate portrayal of the human experience.
Franklin’s career has been marked by numerous solo and group exhibitions, awards in regional and national competitions, and contributions to community events. He will be on hand for an artist’s talk about his work on Friday, August 22nd at noon during Lunch ala Art held monthly at the FMAAA Art Center. Lunch is $12 and reservations are required. You do not need to eat lunch to attend the artist talk. Feel free to join us at 12:30pm in the Main Gallery to hear the artist speak about his inspiration and process.

For more information or to place a reservation for the luncheon, please contact the FMAAA Art Center at 319-372-3996.