Melissa Franklin Sanchez was born in 1984, in Warwickshire, England. In 2002 she graduated from her humanistic studies: Art, Music, English Literature, Performing Arts and Ballet. In 2003 she completed an intensive art foundation course at the Slade School of Art, London. She then enrolled at the Florence Academy of art, a school dedicated to the study of realistic and figurative art. She graduated with the three-year diploma in painting and was offers a 4th year of specialization. Today, Melissa is the director of the ‘6 week intensive workshop, Drawing, painting and Art History’ for the Florence Academy of Art and has been since since 2012. Her work is represented in both Europe and the USA, by Scriba, InPARADISO Gallery, Venice, Italy, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY, and Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas and Le Passage, Alderney Channel Islands. Her work can be found in private and public collections through Europe and the USA, including the prestigious Accademia della Crusca, Florence.
Franklin Sanchez says "Light, time, emotion, are always inspirational to me, whether painting the ever changing landscape or a quiet interior. Searching for the essence of my subject that goes beyond its visual reality. Working directly from nature and from memory I am always trying to capture my experience or relationship with my subject. I am fascinated with working on copper and other metal surfaces that give a beautiful warmth and luminosity. With their endless possibilities I am always rediscovering and pushing myself technically. My family life and travels, continue to be inspiration for my work."
EDUCATION
2003 intensive foundation course , The Slade school of fine art, London
2003- 2007 3 year diploma in Painting, and 4th year specialization. The Florence Academy of art, Florence , Italy
EMPLOYMENT
2013 - 2023 Director of the Six week intensive course,Drawing, painting and Art History, The Florence Academy of Art
Private workshops held in Europe and the USA.
COMMISSIONED WORK
2020 Accademia della Crusca, Florence, Italy
2019 Accademia della Crusca , Florence, Italy
Available for private commissions.
EXHIBITIONS
2024
‘Winter Light’ Le Lune, Florence‘Daydreams’ Grenninggallery gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
‘Gems’ Grenning gallery, Sag Harbor,NY
‘Winter exhibition’ Beaux Arts Bath gallery, Bath Uk
‘A sea of blue’ Blonde Hedgehog office, Alderney, Channel Islands
2023
‘Musings’ Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor‘Coastal impressions’ Blonde hedgehog office, Alderney, Channel Islands
2022
Indian Summer, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor‘summer exhibition’ Le Passage gallery, Alderney Channel Islands
‘The Essence of Florence’ Zefferelli foundation, Florence, Italy
‘Valentine Florals’ Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
2021
‘Gems’ Grenning gallery , Sag Harbor‘Clever Clarity’ Grenning Gallery
‘Summer exhibition’ le passage gallery, Alderney, Channel Islands
‘Armonia A-Temporale, Virtuoso & Belcanto festival, Real Colegio, Lucca,
2020
‘Compte Rendu’ Grenning gallery,Sag Harbor‘Reflections, cactus and Inspiration’ Jack Meier gallery, Houston, Texas
2019
‘Broad Impressions’ Grenning gallery, Sag HarborPremio Mino da Fiesole, Comune di Fiesole, Florence Italy.
2018
‘Poetic Realism’ Grenning gallery ,Sag Harbor‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ virtuoso & belcanto Festival , Chiesa dei Servi, Lucca, Italy
2017
20th Anniversary Show, Grenning gallery,Sag Harbor2016
Ramiro/ franklin sanchez recent works, Grenning gallery, Sag Harbor2015
Ramiro and Melissa Franklin Sanchez, recent works, Grenning gallery, Sag Harbor2014
‘Summer Landscapes’ Grenning gallery, Sag Harbor2013
Ramiro and Melissa Franklin Sanchez, Grenning Gallery, sag harbor2012
European Fine Arts Challenge, Salve Art Gallery , Leipzig, Germany.‘Sommerimpressions’ Salve Art Gallery, Leipzig, Germany
Group show, Grenning gallery, Sag Harbor
2011
‘Primavera Senza Tempo’, IN PARADISO, Giardini della Biennale, Venice, Italy.Two-man Show, Grenning Gallery, USA
2010
Art Power, Concilio Europeo dell Arte, Venezia, ItaliaLocal Landscape, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY, USA
The Lure of Florence, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas,USA
The Florence Academy of Art, Alumni Exhibition, Florence,Italia
200 anos, vivarium novum, Roma, Italia.
2009
‘Classical Realism’, Patterson Gallery, London, UK.St Francesco e Santa Chiara, Massa, Palazzo Ducale, Italia
Exposicion de pintura clasica realista de artistas venezolanos, Isttituto Portoghese, Roma, Italia
Passion for Painting, Grenning gallery, Sag Harbor, NY,USA
2008
All Paintings Great and Small, The Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, CT,USASan Francesco, Massa, Palazzo Ducale, Italia
Local Landscapes, Sag Harbor, NY,USA
Ten years, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY,USA
Young Collectors exhibition, Ann Long Fine Arts, Charleston SC,USA
The 3rd Florence Academy of Art, Alumni exhibition Patterson Gallery London, Uk
2007
Studio Selects, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor NY.USAThe Florence Academy of Art Alumni exhibition, Florence, Italy
The 2nd Florence Academy of Art, Alumni exhibition, Patterson Gallery London, Uk
2006
New Studio Works and Plein Air Landscape Show, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor NYArt Review: "Ramiro Sanchez" Paintings Elevate Realism to Visual Poetry
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Ramiro (b. 1974), originally a classically trained musician, brings us a lyrical series of spiritual figurative paintings this year. Hymn is an homage to the way one expresses their spiritual elations through song. The young woman's face belies ecstasy as she levitates above the Earth into the abstract realm of spirituality. Red and yellow hues streak the atmosphere below, depicting her passion and complete envelopment in the musical manifestation of a higher power. This breakthrough work by Ramiro merges his highly refined classical figurative narrative with an abstract background, creating a 21st century religious painting. It also recalls the sculpture Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Bernini in Rome, which describes the intense joy of spiritual elation, attainable only when one relinquishes the worldly plane. Also technically, Hymn is a virtuosic work with the foreshortened legs and face.
Melissa Franklin Sanchez (b. 1984) exhibits her latest work, created in her new hometown, Fiesole. Her sought after gem-like interiors are inspired by the likes of Hammershoi, with their dramatic lighting and deep sense of intimacy. Summer Light our favorite, sold before it even got a label put on it! Also, Franklin Sanchez made an important shift to painting on aluminum panels for technical reasons. While the copper is a warm toned base, it is also heavy and difficult to find large panels. There are also the final two candle paintings on copper, which literally glow. Franklin Sanchez's Collecting Memories harkens back to the finest Dutch still lives. We see a bolder more confident landscape painter, with two especially strong works Forget-me-not and Fiesole Sunset. This group of paintings clearly shows an artist inspired by her new environment and we look forward to more paintings.
