Artist Statement
Francine Gourguechon
Chicago Mosaics
www.chicagomosaics.com
As a life-long artist, I have worked in many mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and mosaic art. Combining my experience in all these mediums I have focused on mosaic art as my primary direction. Mosaics are an ancient and beautiful medium, long used in places of learning and worship. The historic and enduring quality of mosaics challenges and inspires my work while offering vibrant decorativeness and fascinating detail. Taking mosaics from a representational approach to an abstract art form using color, movement and impact is the goal for my recent mosaic work.
Preferring a more contemporary adaptation in my mosaic art, I embrace the color and luminosity of new materials as well as a unique interpretation of form and detail. I strive for the unusual in subject, material and installation.
Recently, I have been working on a 3 dimensional “tribe” of human forms, mosaicked in art glass, stones, sea creatures, glass eyes and brass bullet shells. The human body as art and body decoration appears in every culture and is used for seduction, ritual, social standing and threat. My body art sculptures are inspired from this cultural phenomenon and the forms and materials that surround me in my studio.
Male torso encrusted in art glass, pebbles and rocks. Sculpted and painted red hair. 32" tall x 23" wide.
Female figure encrusted in art glass, tumbled glass, metal hardware and chains. 28"x17".
Head and elongated neck with plaster face, encrusted in sea creatures, shells, chain, art glass, medical tubing with seaspine hair.
Revolving heads encrusted in art glass on a Wisconsin rock.
Tall female figure encrusted in art glass, tumbled glass, mirrored glass, sliced geode, black rubber car fan belts, crowned with a ceramic horn. 39x9".
Art Deco head and shoulders, encrusted in art glass and glass chunks. 14x24".
“Shaman”
“Red Head”
“Pensive”
“Sea Muse”
“Brain Storm”
“Banded Venus”
“Grace Jones”
