Francien Krieg - Timeless Fighter

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Written by Elizah Leigh for the Beautiful bizarre magazine

The Spiritual Liberation of Unmasking Your True Essence

Allow this to catch fire in your thoughts – the day when you stop listening to society’s relentless white noise….about how you’re not attractive enough…not liked by enough social media followers…not young enough… not successful enough…not even the right race, sex, or creed! Imagine coming to the realization that it’s really just a bunch of nonsense. Consider what it might feel like in your mind and soul to finally just press the mute button. What if you dared to reject society’s ignorant perception of your worthiness and - instead - you embraced your own authentic awesomeness? Can you envision what that moment of personal triumph might look like? Indeed, it might bear a striking resemblance to THESE images!
Most of us are accustomed to ritualistically voguing for an audience of faceless online strangers. The highly curated imagery that we send out into the world, however, bears little resemblance to our core truth or the complexities of our personality and spirit. We end up empowering critics who we’ll likely never meet with the ability to scrutinize a superficial concept of ourselves. Their feedback - often steeped in negativity - inevitably darkens the perception that we have of our own self-worth.
Instead of focusing on filters, flattering light, and performing for likes, Francien Krieg’s refreshingly raw ‘selfies’ capture the spiritual release that happens when we prioritize being real with ourselves. This type of mindset doesn’t require approval from others. It thrives on self-love and knowing that – even without smoke and mirrors – there is glorious beauty in allowing our authentic hearts to shine. Sizzling and crackling with unadulterated truth, Francien’s portraiture stands in solidarity with anyone who is sick of allowing widely held cultural stereotypes and beliefs to tear them down. The vast spectrum of unfiltered emotions radiating from each painting are emblematic of releasing ourselves from society’s shackles without fearing the consequences.
The songs of exultation, primal screams, and even ebullience that are depicted in Francien Krieg’s self-portraits celebrate courageous authenticity and beautiful imperfections. Being in this zone may not be supermodel-pretty – and at times, it may seemingly straddle sanity and madness – but anyone who dares to claim this space cannot help but feel out loud…the way that a young child might. It’s a solemn vow to be in the moment, to tread a path of self-love, and to protect the very best part of our essence – the quality that makes our aura pulse and shimmer like the Northern Lights. Francien’s paintings raise a glass to the triumphant reclamation of our spirits. Long may they shine.

Education
1999-2003: Free academy The Hague painting
1993-1998: Royal Academy of The Hague direction Monumental design

Artist in Residence
2019 : Pouch cove foundation Canada New foundland

Memberships:
International guild of realisme
Portrait society of America
Poets and artists

Prizes and Nomination
2021: nominated for painting of the year
2021:Honourable mention Blue review art prize
2021: Finalist for the Contemporary award 2021 @contemporary.paintings
2021: nominated for Figurativas 2021
2021: Nominated for the MOD portrait Spain
2020: second prize painting of the year NL
2020 : Boldbrush award winner december
2019: nominated by the public "artist of the year"
2019: pre selection Figurativas MEAM
2019: competition.net honourable mention
2018: TRAC exhibition Leeuwarden
2017: nominated for Figurativas MEAM Barcelona
2017: nominated for de Portrait Price NL
Talensprijs Pulchri 2010: second price
Talensprijs Pulchri 2006: third price

Collections
Tezosart foundation, ING Collection, former Scheringa Collection, Van Lien Collection, Tullman Collection Chicago, tiny museum Reflex Modern Galery Amsterdam , collection museum Mohlmann and private collections in- and outside The Netherlands

Fairs
2017: Art Breda, with Galerie Lauswolt
2015: Realism Fair Amsterdam, with Galerie Lauswolt
2012: Realism Fair Amsterdam, with Galerie Mokum
2011: Lineart Art Fair Gent, with Galerie Pinsart
2009: Scope Basel, with Willem Kerseboom Gallery
2009: Art Amsterdam, with Galerie Mokum

Museum Exhibitions

2022: Unblock Gaudi. Digital Art via Blockchain at the museumangewandtekunst
2021: Iconic Wausau museum USA
2021: Women painting women MEAM Barcelona
2021: MEAM finalist MODportrait groupexhibition
2021: Painting today MEAM
2020 Wausau museum USA: Painting the figure now
2019: MEAM Painting today groupexhibition
2019: Groupexhibition Mohlmann museum
2018: Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau, US, Painting the figure NOW
2018: Museum Møhlmann, Appingedam, The feminine touch
2015: Museum De Koperen Knop, Hardinxveld Giesendam, Aging men
2014: Museum van Lien, Fijnaart, Surprising visit, with Hester Schroor and Thea Figee
2012: Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag, Public/private
2012: Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag, XXS
2011: Museum van Lien, Fijnaart, From K to Z works from the museum’s collection
2009: Scheringa Museum, Opmeer, permanent exhibition museum’s own collection

Solo and Duo Exhibitions
2017: Gallery Beinart, Brunswick, Australia, met Effie Pryer en Ville Loponen
2011: Galerie Pinsart, Brugge, Above the couch, with Eline Peek
2011: Galerie Mokum, Amsterdam, solo
2009: Galerie Pinsart, Brugge, solo
2008: Pulchri, Den Haag, Beautiful person, solo
2004: Galeria, Entropia Wroclaw, Polen, solo

Group Exhibitions Abroad
2022: Quantum gallery LA NFT works
2022: Superchief gallery NY NFT works
2021: Urbain portrait Stone Sparrow NYC gallery
2020: An arte gallery started cooperation
2020: An arte gallery San Antonio Texas : Human condition
2020: James baird gallery : Women exhibition
2020: Abend gallery miniature show
2020: Gallery Stone Sparrow NYC group expo: Sinner or saint
2020: Contemporary narratives Stone Sparrow NY
2020: Abend gallery Small works exhibition
2020: Ardent olders 33 contemporary gallery Chicago
2020: Ambivalence 33 contemporary gallery Chicago
2020: Shelter 33 contemporary Chicago
2020: gallery Stone sparrow NYC Manhattan group expo : Unseen
2017: Gallery Abend, Denver, US, Sight unseen
2016: Mas de les Gralles, Barcelona, Spain
2016: Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, VS, Freak out show
2013: Galerie van Campen & Rochtus Antwerp, Belgium, Begeerte, curator Natasja Bennink
2013: Townsend Atelier, Chattanoga, US, Women painting women [r]evolution
2013: Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, US, From motion to stillness
2010: Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, US

Group Exhibitions Netherlands
2020: stories of the skin : Francien Krieg and members of DSG
2019: Karmelklooster Drachten NL Huidhonger
2019: Gallery Bonnard Grenzeloos with Hanneke Naterop, Pedro quesada and Pam Hawkes
2018 : TRAC exhibition Leeuwarden
2018: Galerie Zofier Mata Hari groepstentoonstelling
2018: groepstentoonstelling Bonnard : Mensen mensen
2015: groepsexpositie : Young and beautifull galerie Nasty Alice

Initiator / Organization Exhibitions
2017: Pulchri, Den Haag, Refigure, group exhibition with Hanneke Naterop, Danielle Luinge, Jantien de Boer, Dorien Plaat, Milan Schmidt, Francien Krieg and Pedro Quesada
2010: Bergkerk Deventer, Broos, group exhibition with Lotta Blokker, Eline Peek, Lita Cabelut, Hester Schroor and Dorien Plaat

Publications
2021: Beautiful bizarre magazine interview: The unvarnished landscape of life
2021: catalogue Womenpaintingwomen exhibit MEAM
2020: Your best painting Galerie Artelibre
2020: Leonardo guide galerie Artelibre
2020: The guide artists magazine issue 34
2020: Realisme today: Not above my couch
2020: Fine art connaisseur
2019: Adorn me Poets and artists curator Carol Hodes
2019: Artists on Art: Not Above My Couch
2019: Yoga International 2 page article
2019: Go Wild publication curated by Conor Walton Gormly gallery Ireland
2018: artistmagazine article interview
2018: Dutch art newspaper, article David van der Linden
2017: Millionart Kaleidoscope
2017: Poets and Artists, Fifty great figurative artists, curator Steven Daluz
2017: Poets and Artists, The male muse, curator Didi Menedez

Online curated NFT shows:

2023: Foundation STROKE internally curated by VIC
2023: NFT Europe curated by Danielle King

Podcasts:

2023: Zintuig by Titus Meeuws
2023: Artsanddesign by John Bezold
2023: Podcast by John Dalton Gently does it