Fran has been painting for 13 years, though coming from an arty family her two grandmothers inspired her to play with colours from a very young age.
Originally from Cape Town, she has lived and painted in Wellington since 2013.
Fran is self-taught and works in acrylic – plus oils in the summer.
Prior to this phase of work, she usually painted figures, including a series of farmers and their dogs, which sold well. However, living overlooking Jasmine Reserve in Aotea, the presence of the green forest started coming out in her painting and her winning work shows this.
She approaches a painting by finding a colour, playing with it, and letting the painting evolve by itself until she sees forms in it. She never knows what direction the work will take – it’s always a surprise.
Fran tries to paint as often as possible and is part of a community of artist friends who meet weekly. She was formerly a member of Mana Arts.
Her work has sold through the Mitchell Gallery in Khandallah (now closed), and she used to sell work through the Academy of Fine Arts.
In 2018, her work was part of an exhibition of landscape paintings at Pataka Art+Museum, of four local artists and friends: ‘Four Women Who Paint.’
2024 ART AWARDS | 2024 winners: Emma Hercus | Fran Zukowski | Rhona Orr | Bert van Dijk
ART AWARDS GALLERIES: 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2022 • 2024