GIANLUCA FRANZESE

[If you are interested in purchasing a work, please contact the gallery for more information. All works are also available as NFT’S.]

UPPER MARKET GALLERY is thrilled to welcome FRANZESE for a pop-up solo exhibition, which includes web3 elements to create an immersive art experience. The artist’s focus is entirely on creating physical fine art, and Tino Belasco translates his work into digital assets in the form of NFT’S. The incorporation of augmented reality and virtual reality creates a more robust art experience - one which Franzese believes is tailored for the modern art enthusiast while retaining a traditional aesthetic.

March 17 & 18

opening reception: Friday, March 17, 5 - 8pm

open hours: Saturday, March 18, 12 - 5pm

Born in Italy, Franzese has been around precious metals his whole life. His father was a jeweler and thus a young Gianluca was exposed to the craftsmanship of metal leafing at an early age.

The family moved to New York, where Franzese attended the prestigious Pratt Institute of Art before following his roots back to Italy where Franzese abandoned the contemporary art world and steeped himself in the traditional styles and methods of the old masters at the esteemed Florence Academy of Art. He spent four years in Florence learning the craft of sight size, sculpture, and mixing paints.

With his classical training complete, Franzese moved back to the US and settled in San Francisco where the artist lives, works, and plays today. The skillful young artist quickly achieved success in San Francisco and was commissioned to create a series of paintings for the historic Presidio Foundation.

Franzese would soon take another sabbatical to Italy where he worked for private clients in a mélange of art mediums, including decorative painting where he honed his skill at metal leafing and trompe-l’œil. 

Inspired by the glimmering gold leaf work of Gustav Klimt, the smooth shapes and designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, the groundbreaking pattern work of William Morris, and the facets of Art Deco, Franzese fused his varied inspirations. Summoning his skills and creativity, Franzese began his exploration of mixing glazing techniques on metal leaf.