Francie Klopotic is an Augusta, Georgia visual artist who works with acrylics, graphite, colored pencil, oils, and oil pastels, creating brightly colored portraiture and artwork influenced by her love of the Pop Art movement. She makes art that is inspired by the musicians and artists who have influenced her life from childhood. Her favorite visual artists include Peter Max, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Yoko Ono, and Alex Katz. In 2019, Francie began showing her work in group exhibitions and had her first solo show in 2020. Over the past several years she has made art on commission for enthusiastic collectors located across the United States. Francie was shortlisted for the Augusta Poster Show in 2021 and 2023 and was invited to join the artist collective Artzilla in 2021 where she painted live during the ArtsCity Festival. In 2023, she had two solo art exhibitions and was chosen by jury to paint a piano for the Jessye Norman School of the Arts. In 2024, she was guest curator for the Voices of Augusta II show at Augusta & Co. and was juried into both the Augusta Handmade Fair and the Euphoria Festival. She is currently creating a body of work for an upcoming solo show and a two-woman exhibition. Examples of her work can be found at the Art on Broad gallery in downtown Augusta.
Statement
In my childhood during the early 1970s, I found myself living in a psychedelic, hippie-saturated apartment complex filled with incredible music and colorful characters. I grew up in a Willy Wonka world and was exposed to musicians like Marc Bolan and David Bowie from a young age. Our complex teemed with ethnicities. The world was a kaleidoscope that I couldn’t stop peering into. My art reflects this early exposure to glam rock and hippie culture. In my teens, I learned about Pop Art and became a devotee of Peter Max and Andy Warhol. My love of art and my taste for bold, expressive work evolved from there.
My father abandoned the family on my 10th birthday. He told me he wished I’d never been born. From that moment on, I felt forgotten and worried that everyone I met would forget me. I clung to the hope that people would remember who I was. Since then, I taught myself to draw and developed a love of portraiture. Most of my subjects are forward-facing, and I spend most of my art-making time on the eyes. It’s like I have a subconscious need to make sure my subjects are seen, and remembered.
I am inspired by people who are true to themselves. Movers and shakers, rockers and shockers, anyone who is unafraid to express their true nature. These people are where I find inspiration, both as an artist and as a human being. David Bowie is one of my favorite subjects to draw and paint. I’ve made six pieces over the years and know that I will make more.
I started making art with graphite pencils and that was my preferred medium for 45 years. In 2021, I tried painting portraits with acrylics for the first time and fell in love with the medium. The first painting I made, I sold, so I decided to keep going and see where acrylics would take me.
I like painting flat and use Golden Open acrylics almost exclusively. When a person commissions a piece or buys a piece in a show, I am offering them the highest quality artwork using the best supplies I can find. I am an ardent supporter of fellow artists and enjoy helping others find their place in the arts community.