ABOUT
The Artist
Fran Ifould’s practice is defined by three pillars; LAND - FIRE - WATER,
and is deeply influenced by environmental stewardship through art and science collaboration.
Her work encourages visions for a future while shining light on issues beyond our urban landscapes, exploring through field study residencies across urban and regional Australia - often creating Plein Air works in the natural environment or around the outdoor fire before traditionally printing and hand-colouring in her studio.
Ifould’s work takes the opportunity to draw the viewer's attention to our need to prioritise our environment if we are to maintain our social structure, and to question our moral compass in regards to the fragility of our lifestyle. She asks the viewer to consider our responsibility of tenure for our planet and to seek fresh perspectives on a cleaner, healthier environment for generations to come.
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She believes first-hand knowledge is critical for understanding ecosystems and creature habitation in every space, and bridging the gap between artists, biologists, geologists, writers, and government officials is her life’s passion.
EARLY CAREER
Following high school Fran studied Ceramics at East Sydney Technical College, in Italy and Japan.
While owning a pottery school and gallery which sold her own work and catered for almost 100 students per week, Fran met Garry Palecek, a potter from Vancouver in 1979, subsequently moving as newlyweds to Braidwood during 1980. Both were Japanese trained. They settled into Tallaganda Pottery, in a national trust registered, main street premise to make and sell their wood and oil-fired ceramics, and raise a family.
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Years later, Fran was to retrain as a traditional signwriter, leading to a prominent career in public art. An offer of a Post Graduate position at the Canberra School of Art in Print-media and Drawing, eventually rolling into a Masters, saw her retrain into an art practice based in paper. Since graduating in 2008, she mostly uses, though not exclusively, Hahnemulhe cotton rag and hand deckled art paper, print techniques, natural dye, inks, gouache, and acrylics. The 3D and textural quality of wood fired Ceramics still influencing her work, with the sculptural forms of book making a particular favourite.