BIOGRAPHY

Rodrigo Franzão (b. 1982) is a Brazilian contemporary artist renowned for his innovative exploration of textile and mixed media art. With a background in Literature, Arts, and Art History, Franzao’s practice intricately examines the relationship between form, texture, and color while emphasizing sustainability and environmental responsibility. His work incorporates eco-friendly materials, such as FSC-certified German paper and acrylic paints, highlighting his commitment to ethical artistic practices.

Franzão’s art features dynamic layers of folded paper and textures that evoke a sense of movement, offering viewers a tactile, immersive experience. Based in New Orleans, he has exhibited internationally in prestigious venues, including the International Paper & Textile Art Biennial (Belgium, 2024) and the International Biennial on Textile Art – Fibremen 5 (Ukraine, 2015). He is also a regular presence at major art fairs such as Art Miami (2024), Expo New York (2024), and Art Palm Beach (2025), and has participated in prominent auctions dedicated to noble causes, further cementing his role as a socially conscious artist, such as ART FOR LIFE for the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS in Chicago (2024) and VCPORA for Safeguarding the Heritage of the French Quarter in New Orleans (2023).

Franzão’s works are part of significant collections, including the University of North Alabama, the Robert Yahner Collection (Curator of The National Arts Club, New York), and the Museum of the Superior Court of Justice in Brasília. His solo exhibition The Soul of the Water (2023) at Jillian Mac Fine Arts in New Orleans, curated by Jill McGaughey, solidified his position in contemporary art. He also featured in ART NOW at Hearst Tower in Manhattan, curated by Betty Levin.

A thought leader in the textile art community, Franzão is the founder of Museu Têxtil, a virtual museum, and InTheArts, an art magazine dedicated to textile and mixed media practices. His curatorial projects, including Threads of Tomorrow (2024) and Textile Expressions (2023), continue to shape the future of contemporary textile art, reinforcing his status as an influential figure in the global art scene.

Franzao’s work challenges viewers to reconsider the relationship between nature, art, and society, while reflecting on themes of fragility, interconnectedness, and the passage of time.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is a dialogue between materiality, light, and form, where I engage with the inherent properties of sustainable, FSC-certified German paper and acrylic paints to explore the delicate tension between nature and creation. This practice is not simply an aesthetic pursuit, but a testament to a philosophy that honors the environment while pushing the boundaries of visual perception.

Each piece begins with the meticulous folding and layering of pieces of paper, a process that establishes depth, texture, and movement, evoking a sense of kinetic energy within the static. The interplay of light and shadow that results from the physicality of the paper serves as a dynamic force, activating the work in response to its surrounding space. I seek to create a visual experience where the audience is invited to consider not only the composition but also the ephemeral nature of light itself.

The application of acrylic paint follows, where a refined monochromatic gradient is introduced. Dark to light transitions culminate in a concentrated point of white, simulating the nuanced flow of natural light as it shifts across the canvas. This gradient speaks to the fleeting nature of time, a theme that runs through my work, inviting contemplation on the cycles of change and renewal in both the natural world and human existence.

My commitment to sustainability extends beyond the surface, serving as a guiding principle in every phase of creation. The conscious use of eco-friendly materials reflects my deep respect for the planet, underscoring the belief that art should not only resonate in the present moment but contribute to a future in which beauty and responsibility coexist. In this way, my work becomes a celebration of balance—between art and environment, form and formlessness, permanence and impermanence..

EDUCATION

2023
MBA in Museology, Curatorship and Exhibition Management. UNITAU. Brazil.

2021
MBA in Art History and Visual Culture. UCAM. Brazil.

2015
Arts. CEUCLAR. Brazil.

2009
Psychpedagogy and Art Therapy. FPA. Brazil.

2004
Language Arts. UNIMARCO. Brazil.

BIENNIALS

2024
International Paper & Textile Art Biennial, Cultural Community Center GC Den Breughel, Haacht, Belgium.

2015
The International Biennial on Textile Art - Fibremen 5. Scythia, Kherson, Ukraine.

AUCTIONS

2024
ART FOR LIFE CHICAGO, Chicago, 2024. (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS)

2025
VCPORA, New Orleans, USA, 2023. (Safeguarding the Heritage of the French Quarter)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024
Fragmentos da Existência. Andrea Redher Art Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil.

2023
Alma da Água. Jillian Mac Fine Arts, New Orleans, USA.

2017
Personal Structures. Casa dos Contos Museum, Ouro Preto, Brazil.

2016
Surfaces and Abstractions. Antônio Lino Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2015
Katharsis. National Arts Club, New York, USA.
Involuntary Exclusion. Superior Tribunal de Justiça Museum, Brasília, Brazil.
Weaving Shapes. Anexxo Gallery. Goiás, Brazil.

2014
Involuntary Exclusion. Anexxo Gallery, Goiás, Brazil.

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS

2025
2st Art Festival, Degas House Museum, New Orleans, USA.
It\'s Only (super)Natural, University of Mississippi, Oxford, USA.
Heart of Matter, Laura Rathe, Dallas, USA.
Scale Synthesis: Bi-Annual Art Exhibition, Creole Contemporary, New Orleans, USA.
Art Walk Magazine Street, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
How You Doin’ New Orleans, Merchant House, Art New Orleans Association, New Orleans, USA.
ART NOW, HEARST TOWER, Manhattan, New York.

2024
Cheers to 25 Years, Laura Rathe Gallery, Houston, USA.
ART NOW, HEARST TOWER, Manhattan, New York.
International Paper & Textile Art Biennial, Cultural Community Center GC Den Breughel, Haacht, Belgium.
Shoals Art Invitational Exhibition, University North of Alabama, Florence, USA.
Auction - ART FOR LIFE CHICAGO, Chicago, 2024. (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS).
How You Doin’ New Orleans, Merchant House, Art New Orleans Association, New Orleans, USA.
Atlanta Art Week, Carousel Fine Art Group Gallery, Atlanta, USA.
Art for Art's Sake, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Rodrigo Franzao: Intricate Interplay of Light, Shadow, Color, and Texture, Ai Bo Gallery, Rye, USA.
Private Collection, Home Art Gallery, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Art Walk Magazine Street, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Jardim da Primavera, Home Art Gallery, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
1st Art Festival, Degas House Museum, New Orleans, USA.
The Champagne Stroll, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Caminhos, Andrea Rehder Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil.

2023
Art for Art's Sake, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Auction - VCPORA, New Orleans, USA, 2023. (Safeguarding the Heritage of the French Quarter).
Full Circle, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Azimut Brasil Wealth, Andrea Rehder Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil.
Art Walk Magazine Street, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
The Champagne Stroll, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Contemporary Brazilian Artists, Private Collection, São Paulo, Brazil.

2022
Art for Art's Sake, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
The Champagne Stroll, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Tecer Encaixar Acumular, Andrea Rehder Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil.
Art Walk Magazine Street, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.

2019
Art for Art's Sake, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Berlin Art Week: Latinoamerican Art, South Embassy Gallery, Berlin, Germany.
Creative Pride, National Arts Club, NY, USA.
The Champagne Stroll, Jillian Mac Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, USA.
Little Islands Fest, Amorgos, Greece.
South Embassy Gallery, Berlin, Germany.
Concept: the 5th Int. Exhibition on Conceptual Art. CICA Museum, Gimpo-si, Korea.

2017
Love Inspires. Inn Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil.
Outside the Lines: The 4º Drawing Invitational. National Arts Club, NY, USA.

2016
Between The Lines: Exploring Drawings. National Arts Club, NY, USA.

2015
The International Biennial on Textile Art - Fibremen 5. Scythia, Kherson, Ukraine.

2014
Involuntary Exclusion. Anexxo Gallery, Goiás, Brazil.

ART FAIRS

2025
THE ART PALM BEACH SHOW, Carousel Fine Art Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 2025
ART PALM BEACH + CONTEMPORARY, Aibo Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 2025

2024
ART MIAMI, Aibo Gallery, Miami, Florida, 2024
ART ON PAPER NY, Aibo Gallery, New York, USA, 2024
ARTPE, Andrea Rehder Art Gallery, Recife, Brazil, 2024
EXPO NEW YORK, Flavio Dolce Art Projects, New York, USA, 2024
SPARTE, Andrea Rehder Art Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil, 2024

2023
SPARTE/Rotas Brasileiras, Andrea Rehder Art Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil, 2023
SPARTE, Andrea Rehder Art Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil, 2023

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

ECA - USP, Sao Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil
Arts New Orleans Organization, New Orleans, USA
University North of Alabama, Florence, USA.
Robert Yahner Collection, New York, USA. (The National Arts Clubs)
Exhibition Center Odivelas Museum, Lisbon, Portugal.
Superior Tribunal de Justiça Museum, Brasília, Brazil.
Private collectors.

CURATOR

2025
Dimensional Dialogues, Flavio Dolce Art Projects, New Orleans, USA. (15 Artists/5 Nationalities/27 Artworks)

2024
Beyond Boundaries, Flavio Dolce Art Projects, New Orleans, USA. (10 Artists/3 Nationalities/23 Artworks)
Threads of Tomorrow, Museu Têxtil, New Orleans, USA. (69 Artists/29 Nationalities/148 Artworks)
Contemporary Chronicals, Flavio Dolce Art Projects, New Orleans, USA. (9 Artists/5 Nationalities/23 Artworks)

2023
Textile Expressions, Flavio Dolce Art Projects, New Orleans, USA. (7 Artists/2 Nationalities/17 Artworks)
Natural Impressions, Museu Têxtil, New Orleans, USA. (64 Artists/22 Nationalities/136 Artworks)

2022
Intellectual Beauty, Museu Têxtil, São Paulo, Brazil. (43 Artists/18 Nationalities/116 Artworks)

2020
Contrasting Shapes, Museu Têxtil, São Paulo, Brazil. (23 Artists/10 Nationalities/23 Artworks)

AUTHOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

2024
Inthearts Magazine. Fall, Issue 3, 2024. ISBN 979-8-87-540463-4
Threads of Tomorrow: Arte Têxtil e Mista 2013 - 2024. ISBN 978-65-998488-2-7
Inthearts Magazine. Winter, Issue 2, 2024. ISBN 979-8-88-136387-1

2023
Inthearts Magazine. Winter, Issue 1, 2023. ISBN 979-8-88-068384-0
Natural Impressions: Arte Têxtil e Mista 2003 - 2023. ISBN 978-65-998488-1-0

2022
Intellectual Beauty: Textile Art e Mixed Media 2004 - 2022. ISBN 978-65-998488-0-3

2020
Contrastes de Forma: Arte Têxtil e Mista 2014 - 2020. ISBN 978-65-001-6078-9

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2024
Alarcão, Joana. “In conversation: Rodrigo Franzão” Insights of a Young Ecological Artist, Feb. 2024, p. 1. Web. (LONDON)

2023
“Brazilian Textile Artist Rodrigo Franzão in His First New Orleans Exhibit.” New Orleans Magazine, May. 2023, p. 1. Web. (NEW ORLEANS)
Edmeade, Evette. “Rodrigo Franzao: Versatile Artist Engaging in Mixed Media, Painting, and Video Art.” Hidden Talents: An International Art Magazine, Dec. 2023, p. 30-31, 36. Print. (ENGLAND)

2022
Nakagawa, Zulfiya. "Rodrigo Franzão." 365 art+ Magazine, June 2022, p. 18-21. Print. (JAPAN)
Barbastefano, Pedro. "Arte em Costura." 29 Horas Magazine, July 2022, p. 12. Print. (BRAZIL)
Navarro, Dafta. "Rodrigo Franzão." Art Market Magazine, April 2022, p. 82-95. Print. (ISRAEL)

2020
Adams, Helen. "Rodrigo Franzão." Textile Curator, July 2020, p. 1. Web. (LONDON)

2019
"Supertition Review: Rodrigo Franzão." Arizona State University, Issue 23, May 2019, p. 1. Web. (USA)
Carson, Mary. "Rodrigo Franzão: Industrial strength stitching." Textile Artist, Oct. 2019, p. 1. Web. (LONDON)
Kuszynski, Piotr. Interview: Rodrigo Franzão, FAKfulness Magazine no.1, May 2019, p. 60-61. Print. (NETHERLANDS)
Grahm, Anne. Interview: Rodrigo Franzão, Art Reveal Magazine no.47, May 2019, p. 44-50. ISBN 9780368954870. Print. (ENGLAND)
Eichert-Schäfer, Claudia. "Interview mit dem brasilianischen Kunstler Rodrigo Franzão." Textile Art Magazine, April 2019. Web. (BERLIN)

2017
"Museu Casa dos Contos recebe a exposição Estruturas Pessoais." Tv Top Cultura, March 2017. Video. (BRAZIL)

2016
"Espaço Cultural: Catálogo 2015." Secretária de Documentação, Memória e Cultura, Dec. 2016, p. 20. Print. (BRAZIL)

2015
"Supertition Review: Rodrigo Franzão." Arizona State University, Issue 16, Dec. 2015, p. 1. Web. (USA)
"Rodrigo Franzão representa o Brasil com duas obras em Bienal de arte têxtil na Ucrânia, que começa dia 22 de outubro." Obras de Arte, Oct. 2015, p. 1. Web. (BRAZIL)
"Rodrigo Franzão to O Brasil na Bienal de arte têxtil na Ucrânia." Artistas e Artes, Oct. 2015, p. 1. Web. (BRAZIL)
"KATARZA I RAVNOTEŽA." DRUGI PAR GAĆA, Oct. 2015, p. 1. Web. (CROATIA)
"Do espaço do STJ para Nova York". JusBrasil, Oct. 2015, p. 1. Web. (BRAZIL)
"The National Arts Club presents Rodrigo Franzão - Katharsis." Guest of a guest, Sep. 2015, p. 1. Web. (USA)
"Artista de Goiás é o 1º brasileiro a expor em famosa galeria dos EUA. Telas de Rodrigo Franzão vão ficar em local que já teve obras de Picasso." G1 - Globo TV, Sep. 2015, p. 1. Web. (BRAZIL)
"Rodrigo Franzão é o primeiro brasileiro a expor na Marquis Galeria em 117 anos: O espaço recebe dez obras do artista paulistano." Revista Brasileiros, Sep. 2015, p. 1. Web. (BRAZIL)
"Rodrigo Franzão é o primeiro artista plástico brasileiro, em 117 anos, a expor na Marquis Gallery do National Arts Club, em Nova York." Obras de Arte, Sep. 2015, p. 1. Web. (BRAZIL)
"Terraço Paulistano: SP-Abadiãnia-NY." Veja São Paulo, Aug. 2015, p. 27. Print. (BRAZIL)
"The limit is imagination: Rodrigo Franzão on his abstract art." Arts Culture, July 2015, p. 1. Web. (ENGLAND)
"Rodrigo Franzão - Abadiãnia, Goiás, Brazil." 365 days-365 artists, May 2015, p. 1. Web. (USA)
"Rodrigo Franzão: Subtração Involuntária." Vem Comigo TV, May 2015. Video. (BRAZIL)
Bennellick, Mary. "Abstract Textiles" Be Creative with Workbox, Jul./Aug. 2015, p. 82-85. Print. (ENGLAND)
Rotelli, Pietro. "Rodrigo Franzão." The Art Zine, June 2015, p. 1. Web. (ITALY)
Aragão, Judith Luzardo de. "Rodrigo Franzão: Subtração Involuntária." Vem Comigo TV, May 2015. Video. (BRAZIL)
Giusti, André. "Museu do Superior Tribunal de Justiça: entrevista." Museu do Superior Tribunal de Justiça, May 2015. Audio. (BRAZIL)

2014
Fernandes, Maria T. "Arte em Abadiânia." Revista Roteiro Brasília, Oct./Nov. 2014, p. 16. Print. (BRAZIL)
Pitcher, Sam. "Rodrigo Franzão: Abstract forms." Textile Artist, Dec. 2014, p. 1. Web. (LONDON)