Frances Byrd
Suwanee, GA
Illustrating the intersection of nature and humanity through portraits of empowered women
Message
Frances Byrd grew up on Florida's historic coast, before settling in the Georgia Piedmont. Her bold and dynamic painting style, combined with a passion for female empowerment, have resulted in a portfolio of narrative portraits that capture the unique personalities of her models.
She uses decorative and symbolic elements to augment the narrative of her work, as well as adding visual interest and movement around each composition. In her personal life, Frances enjoys connecting with nature. For this reason, you will find symbols of ecology, nature-based mythology, and subjects from her adventures in the wild included in her themes.
Frances earned a Bachelor's Degree in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1997. She currently lives in Suwanee, Georgia, where she works from her home studio. In 2021, one of her self-portraits was purchased for the permanent collection at The Hudgens Center for Art and Learning in Duluth, Georgia. Other permanent collections housing her work include the community centers at the Melrose and Harrison Villages in Gainesville, GA. Her nature-based public works are on display in Gainesville, Atlanta, and multiple locations around Jackson County, Georgia. Her largest installation, to date, is located throughout the atrium of the public library in Commerce, Georgia.
Statement
Although my themes have evolved over the years, I have always woven a thread of visual symbolism across the narratives in my work. My fascination with mythology and legend, paired with a graphic style, enable me to build a visual narrative of wonder and passion in my portrait subjects.
My depiction of powerful female forms paired with animals, plants, and celestial bodies express the wonder and joy I feel in the natural environment, exploring the interconnectedness between humans and nature. Through these portraits I fully embrace our smallness in the expanse of the universe.
My main goal as a portrait artist is the portrayal of real women, with natural bodies who are strong, intelligent, compassionate, and self-confident. They are most certainly beautiful in their uniqueness, but they are not defined by that superficial standard. I strive to celebrate the personality of each individual in her portrait. These elements of my creative process are my primary tools for developing themes of female empowerment.
In many cultures, women are celebrated for bringing forth and nurturing life. This devotion recognizes our human place in the natural world and ignites our more complex creative pursuits. It is for this reason that I incorporate portraits of women into my explorations of nature, combining symbolism and legend across species and environments, to illustrate narratives born of reverence and joy – for the natural beauty we all possess, and our interconnectedness to the larger world of which we are a part.