Lucy Fradkin

Rich in references to ancient frescoes and mosaics, Lucy Fradkin’s paintings capture a timeless moment through a contemporary lens. Since 1998, she has created a series of figurative works painted in oil or gouache on paper and board. Inspired by Indian and Persian miniatures, the vanishing art of hand-painted signage, as well as sacred and folk art, her paintings depict a diverse range of individuals. Following in the tradition of genre painters, the artist places figures, often women, in domestic interiors. Quiet and still, they contribute to the solemn and mysterious atmosphere of the scene.

She also incorporates decorative elements through collage, drawing from a variety of sources such as old catalogues, field guides, and vintage books. Through meticulous cutting and assembling, she develops intricate patterns and compositions that become a subtle element of the work’s surface. Lucy Fradkin uses colour and pattern to evoke emotions and tell stories of everyday life, inviting the viewer into an intimate world.

Born in 1953 in Brooklyn, New York, USA ; Lives and work in New York, USA. 


SELECTED SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS (selection)

2026
- I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day, RX&SLAG Gallery, Paris, France.
2024
- Good Morning Alice and Other Stories, Martos Gallery, New York, USA.
2021
- Lucy Fradkin : The Loving Series and Other Works, Shoot the lobster nada Gallery, Miami, USA.
2014
- Lucy Fradkin and Arthur Simms : Intimate Worlds, Holter museum of art Helena, Montana, USA.
2013
- Lucy Fradkin : Going To A Go-Go, Harvey/meadows gallery, Aspen, Colorado, USA.
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, The bellarmine museum of art fairfield, Connecticut, USA.  
2012
- Lucy Fradkin-Home Is Where The Heart Is, Nancy margolis Gallery, New York, USA.
- Lucy Fradkin and Roxa Smith, Kenise barnes fine art larchmont, New York, USA.
2010
- Lucy Fradkin, Family Tree, Nancy margolis Gallery, New York, USA.
2008-09
- Lucy Fradkin, Nicolaysen Museum Casper, Wyoming, USA.
2008
- Terra Cotta, Terra Firma, Clark gallery Lincoln, Massachusetts, USA.  
2007
- Lucy Fradkin : Works on Paper, Harvey/meadows Gallery Aspen, Colorado, USA.
- Intricate Simplicity, Lucy Fradkin, Gallery San angel, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
- Lucy Fradkin, Lesley heller gallery, New York, USA.  
2005
- Untold Stories, Kenise barnes fine art Larchmont, New York, USA.
2004
- Roman Holiday-New Work From A Year Spent In Rome-Lucy Fradkin and Arthur Simms, Kenise barnes fine art Larchmont, New York, USA.
2003
- Lucy Fradkin-Spring Line, American academy in Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Lavori Italiani : Lucy Fradkin e Arthur Simms, Galleria officina ceramica, Cagliari, Italy.  
2002
- Lucy Fradkin and Mark Newton, Port washington library, Port Washington, New York, USA.  
2000
- Lucy Fradkin, A Brief History of History of Fashion and Friendship, Kenise barnes fine art Larchmont, New York, USA.  
1998
- Emily and Lucy, Sideshow 195, Williamsburg, New York, USA.  
1996
- Pintura Lucy Fradkin, Galeria azul, Guadalajara, Mexico.
1987
- Lucy Fradkin, Port washington library, Port Washington, New York, USA.
1982
 - Lucy Fradkin Works on Paper, West village gallery, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA.  
1981
- Lucy Fradkin-Paper-Weavings, Alternative space New York, New York, USA.


GROUP EXHITIONS (selection)

2024
- The Armory Show, Tamarind institute New York, New York, USA.
2023-24
- Family Affair, The bunker artspace, West Palm Beach, Floride, USA. 
2022
- Singing in Unision, Ricco maresca New York, New York, USA.
- Singing in Unision, Miguel abreu New York, New York, USA.
- Singing in Unision, Scully tomasko foundation New York, New York, USA.  
- Singing in Unision, BELOW GRAND New York, New York, USA.
2021
- Scapes, SLAG gallery, New York, USA.  
- Tenacity, Chautauqua institution, Chautaqua, New York, USA.
- Still Utopia:Island, MC Gallery, New York, USA.
- 7 Years LA NUEVA FÁBRICA Antigua, Guatemala (postponed).
2019
- New Work by Lucy Fradkin, Alleghany Meadows and Trey Hill HARVEY PRESTON GALLERY Aspen, Colorado, USA.
- Every Woman Biennial, La Mama Galleria, New York, USA.
2018
- UNTITLED, MIAMI, STEVE TURNER Gallery Miami, Floride, USA.  
- Inside Out, STEVE TURNER, Los Angeles, Californie, USA.  
- American Portraiture Today, The Baker Museum Naples, Italy.
- American Portraiture Today, Ackland Art Museum Chapel Hill, Caroline du Nord, USA.
2017
- American Portraiture Today, KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
- American Portraiture Today, TACOMA ART MUSEUM Tacoma, Washington, USA.
- American Portraiture Today, ART MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.
- Whitney Houston Biennial, 325 West Broadway New York, USA.
2016
- American Portraiture Today, SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, Washington DC, USA.
- Women and Advertising, WEATHERSPOON ART MUSEUM Greensboro, Caroline du Nord, USA.
- David Kimball Anderson, Elizabeth Ferrill, Lucy Fradkin & Michaelene Walsh, HARVEY/MEADOWS GALLERY Aspen, Colorado, USA.  
2014
- Art on Paper, WEATHERSPOON ART MUSEUM Greensboro, Caroline du Nord, USA.
- Rule of the Law, ATHENS SCHOOL OF ART GALLERY, Athens, Greece.
- Flowering, NANCY MARGOLIS GALLERY, New York, USA.
2013
- Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, Washington DC, USA.
- Come Together : Surviving Sandy, INDUSTRY CITY Brooklyn, New York, USA.
- Congregation Annotated, 106 GREEN GALLERY Brooklyn, New York, USA.
2011
- Lucy Fradkin, Tony Marsh, Sun Koo Yuh, HARVEY/MEADOWS GALLERY Aspen, Colorado, USA.  
- Rock, Paper, Scissors, CLARK GALLERY, Lincoln, Massachusetts, USA.  
2010
- Summer 2010, NANCY MARGOLIS GALLERY, New York, USA.
- It’s A Wonderful 10th, SIDESHOW GALLERY, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
2009
- Summer At The Paramount, MULRY FINE ART Palm Beach, Floride, USA.
- Party At Chris’s House, JANET KURNATOWSKI GALLERY, New York, USA.
- Flower Power, CLARK GALLERY, Lincoln, Massachusetts, USA.
2008-09
- As Others See Us, BRATTLEBORO MUSEUM AND ART CENTER, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA.
2008
- Family Portrait, GALLERY SAN ANGEL, San Antonio, Texas, USA.  
- Fifteen Artists Address The Issue Of Love, HARVEY/MEADOWS GALLERY, Aspen, Colorado, USA.  
- Rock, Scissors, Paper, MULRY FINE ART, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
2007
- Sugar Buzz, LEHMAN COLLEGE ART GALLERY, Bronx, New York, USA.
2006
- Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, Washington DC, USA.
- 3rd Wave, BAC Gallery Brooklyn, New York, USA.
- Art Bar Artists 2006-2007, ART BAR GALLERY, Ithaca, New York, USA.
- Winter Salon, LESLEY HELLER GALLERY, New York, USA.  
- A Thing of Beauty, KENISE BARNES FINE ART, Larchmont, New York, USA.  
2005
- Portraits-A Group Show, L STREET FINE ART San Diego, California, USA.
- 8th Annual Mermaid Show, CONEY ISLAND MUSEUM, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
- Long Island City : The Creative Path, FLUSHING TOWN HALL, Queens, New York, USA.
2004
- War & Peace, METAPHOR CONTEMPORARY ART, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
- First Annual, SIDESHOW GALLERY, Williamsburg, New York, USA.
- Gallery Artists, KENISE BARNES FINE ART, Larchmont, New York, USA.
2003
- Biennale di Arte Contemporanea di Porto Ercole, FORTE STELLA Porto Ercole, Italy.
- Merry, SIDESHOW GALLERY, Williamsburg, New York, USA.
- Gallery Artists, KENISE BARNES FINE ART, Larchmont, New York, USA.
2002
- 5th Annual Mermaid Show, HOLLAND TUNNEL, Williamsburg, New York, USA.
- Botanical Gardens : The Birds and the Bees, KENISE BARNES FINE ART, Larchmont, New York, USA.
- Botanical Gardens : The Birds and the Bees, GALLERY @ PFIZER LEARNING CTR Ryebrook, New York, USA.
- Body Language, ISLIP ART MUSEUM, East Islip, New York, USA.
- 2002 : New Work, KENISE BARNES FINE ART, Larchmont, New York, USA.
2001
- Merry, SIDESHOW GALLERY, Williamsburg, New York, USA.
- Drawing On Language, SPACES, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
- Group Show, GALLERY KOREA, New York, USA.
- 21st  Suffragettes, SIDESHOW GALLERY, Williamsburg, New York, USA.
2000
- Recess, KENISE BARNES FINE ART, Larchmont, New York, USA.
1999
- Angels For The Millennium, THE WORK SPACE, New York, USA.
- Group Show, RUSH ARTS, New York, USA.
- Works on Paper, JEFFREY HOFFELD & CO. The Park Avenue Armory, New York, USA.
- Wall Paper, KENISE BARNES FINE ART, Larchmont, New York, USA.
- Wish You Were Here, ELSA MOTT IVES GALLERY, New York, USA.
1998
- Small Works, PS 122 GALLERY, New York, USA.
1998
- Local Color, HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT, New York, USA.
- Pay Per It, SIDESHOW 195 Williamsburg, New York, USA.
- Pierogi 2000 Goes To College, FRANCES LEHMAN LOEB ART CENTER, VASSAR COLLEGE Poughkeepsie, New York, USA.
- Women View Women, ELSA MOTT IVES GALLERY, New York, USA.
- Works On/Of Paper, QUEENSBOROUGH COLLEGE ART GALLERY, Queens, New York, USA.
1997
- New York Drawers, GASWORKS, London, England.
- New York Drawers, CORNER HOUSE Manchester, England.
- Current Undercurrent, BROOKLYN MUSEUM OF ART, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
- Group Show, FLUSHING GALLERY, Queens, New York, USA.
1995
- NY Soho Biennial, 473 BROADWAY, New York, USA.
- Freaks, THE MUSEUM OF UNNATURAL HISTORY, New York, USA.
- Group Show, ELSA MOTT IVES GALLERY, New York, USA.
- Works for a Fun House, E.S. VANDAM, New York, USA.
1994
- The Box Show, K & E GALLERY, New York, USA.
1993
- Memorial Exhibition of Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.  
- The Art of Discovery, KRASDALE GALLERY, Bronx, New York, USA.
1992
- Group Show, PHILIPPE BRIET GALLERY, New York, USA.
- Artistas en Residencia Otono '92, GALERIA ALTOS DE CHAVON, La Romana, Dom.Rep.
1991
- Art Works/Art Workers, A.C. PROJECT ROOM, New York, USA.
- Group Show, JAMAICA ART CENTER, Jamaica, New York, USA.
1990
- Dia de Los Muertos III, ALTERNATIVE MUSEUM, New York, USA.
- China Show, P.S. 1 MUSEUM, Long Island City, New York, USA.
- China International Arts Festival, HONG KONG ART CENTRE, Hong Kong, China.
1989
- Best of the Annual Juried, QUEENS MUSEUM, Flushing, New York, USA.
1988
- Pier Show, STUDIO K GALLERY, Long Island City, New York, USA.
1987
- Art From Western Queens, KAUFMAN-ASTORIA STUDIOS, Astoria, New York, USA.
- Small Works Show, BACA DOWNTOWN, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
- Long Island City Artists Part II, STUDIO K GALLER, Long Island City, New York, USA.
1986
- Wall to Wall, FLUSHING GALLERY, Flushing, New York, USA.
1986
- Annual Juried, QUEENS MUSEUM, Flushing, New York, USA.
1985
- Long Island City Artists Part I", STUDIO K GALLERY, Long Island City, New York, USA.
1984
- Art Against Apartheid, LANGSTON HUGHES LIBRARY, Queens, New York, USA.
1983
- Group Show, A.J. ALLAN GALLERY, New York, USA.
1982
- Group Show, ON PAPER GALLERY, Lenox, Massachusetts, USA.
- Group Show, PRATT GALLERY Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
1981
- Group Show, PRATT GALLERY, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
- Group Show, GROVE ST. GALLERY, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.


PRIX

2014
- Purchase Award — Weatherspoon Art Museum.
2011
- The Space Program Grant — Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation.
2009
- Pollock-Krasner Grant — Pollock-Krasner Foundation.
2007
- Individual Support Grant — Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation.
2005
- Artist Fellowship – Drawing — New York Foundation for the Arts.
1998
- Artists Grant — Vermont Studio Center.
1995
- Artist Fellowship – Drawing — New York Foundation for the Arts.
1987
- Solo Exhibition Grant — Artists Space.
1978
- Community Artists Grant — Vermont Council for the Arts.


RÉSIDENCES

2023
- Artist Residency — Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, NM.
2018
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — New Roots Foundation, Antigua, Guatemala.
2017
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — Campo Garzón, Garzón, Uruguay.
1997
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — New York Foundation for the Arts.
1996
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — New York Foundation for the Arts.
1995
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — New York Foundation for the Arts.
1994
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — New York Foundation for the Arts.
1993
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — New York Foundation for the Arts.
1992
- Artist-in-Residence Grant — La Fundación Centro Cultural R.D.