Featured Artist - Angela Franklin
- DEA
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 9
"Textiles are as valuable and valid as an artistic tool as paint, clay, stone sculptures, printmaking, etc. I appreciate textiles being tactile, bold in color, encompassing different weight and reflective of culture and history."
A native of Cincinnati, USA, Franklin has lived and worked abroad in Dakar, Senegal; UAE, Nigeria, and the Marshall Islands. With a BA in Art from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, and an MFA from Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, she creates narrative tales that explore, chronicle, and give testimony to people of The Diaspora and their shared experiences and philosophies regarding themselves and other cultures.
In November 2024, Franklin participated in the Croisement exhibition with artists from Senegal, Cameroon, and Cote D'Ivoire, etc. at the Daniel Sorano Theater Gallery in Senegal as part of the internationally acclaimed Dakar Biennale OFF Exhibits.
Franklin has received grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the Maryland State Arts Council to name a few. Past exhibits include the Southampton History Museum, Southampton, New York; Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi; The Art Hub-Abu Dhabi; Musee Boribana, Dakar, Senegal; the Renwick Gallery-Smithsonian Institution, 13th DAK’Art Biennale National Exhibit; and the National Afro-American Museum, Wilberforce, Ohio.
Dea: What led you to working with textiles?
Angela: For the last few years, I have spent my time in between Senegal and another land or city. Including 11 years in Abu Dhabi, UAE and 2 years in the Marshall Islands. I have had a home in Dakar, Senegal for 20+years and now have decided to spend majority time in Dakar with some time in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
I have a BA in Art, my Masters in Fine Arts and also a Master in Education Leadership. The final master is important because I have extensive professional experience in higher education administration and along with my art background that encompassed painting along with enamel/metal arts. As I moved into different lands, I leaned more towards textiles as they were a consistent tool I could find anywhere in the world. At that time, I made a rule that if I am going to live in different lands then I would work with the fabric found there. The Marshall Islands provided access to the bold designs, vibrant colors found in the Pacific Island fabric. The UAE provided access to fabrics from throughout the Middle East and Asia. Fabrics found in Senegal were international along with the breathtaking traditional indigo, mudcloth, wax and other fabrics noted for West Africa.
Dea: Where do you find your inspiration?
Angela: My inspirations come from a life lived and day to day experiences derived from reading, conversations with friends, family, cultural, history, travel, etc. By nature, I am a storyteller born into a family of “word wizards.” Nurtured by Southern US euphemisms and shared folklore, this upbringing has inspired my works as narrative tales that explore and give testimony to people of The African Diaspora. I have lived and worked in Senegal, Nigeria, UAE, and the Marshall Islands, and with each nation, I witnessed shared experiences and philosophies among cultures. My works attempt to juxtapose the people, customs, traditions, and language found in those far-off lands with the semi-rural community of West College Hill in Cincinnati where I was born.
"While this is what inspires me, I do not wait to be inspired to work. I work on my art on a regular schedule, 5 days per week for a minimum of about 20-25 hours a week. I consider this my job that I embrace."
Dea: What’s your creative process like?
Angela: I begin each piece with a black and white sketch/design. That may take me a few days to get to the point where I am satisfied. After this I do a color version and then do the design to scale. Once I have the color version to scale, I spend a few days collecting the fabric and materials needed. Once all the materials come together I am ready to begin.
Dea: Is there a specific piece or project you are proud of?
Angela: I like to work in series as opposed to just doing one piece here and there. I am proud of the works I created for my series MY SOUL TO KEEP . These works speak to the emotions of transitioning through grief. I am also proud of two commissioned works for The Acres of Ancestry Initiative/Black Agrarian Fund, a multidisciplinary, cooperative nonprofit ecosystem rooted in Black ecocultural traditions and textile arts to regenerate custodial landownership, ecological stewardship, and food and fiber economies in the South.
"Creativity is the ability to see alternatives, diverse options and infinite possibilities in all aspects of life. I can’t limit creativity to art only because I see it as a mentality that impacts how we transition through life at work, in personal/professional relationships, in meal preparation, clothing, home decor and more. Creativity has allowed me to combine ideas and imagination to create final solutions."
Dea: Are you working on any exciting projects right now?
Angela: I have been invited to submit a proposal for the Seventh Annual Fiber Exhibition with the Contemporary Art Modern Project with the theme “Women Pulling at the Threads of Social Discourse: Don’t be Absurd.” This exhibition will explore absurdism, referencing Franz Kafka, Albert Camus,Simone de Beauvoir, and Jose Saramago. I am really interested in this as I love creating works that are inspired by literature and other cultures.
I am also working on a series now titled, “Speak to me of Generational Wealth.” I am excited about this series as I constantly hear people proclaim that they are leaving their children and grandchildren generational wealth, yet I wonder if this generational wealth is perceived as more than money. In these new works, I will explore generational wealth as it relates to family, culture, and history, etc.
From January 24-March 14, I am in a two-person exhibit titled “Getting to Getting to Grown: A Diaspora Journey at the James E Lewis Museum at Morgan State University, a historical black college/university. Recent commissions have allowed me to utilize my art as a powerful tool to address social justice issues.They give testimony to people of The Diaspora and their shared experiences and philosophies regarding themselves and other cultures.
I want my works to provide an alternative or unheard perspective on current issues impacting the world. The brilliance of color and tactile appeal found in my art draws people in, and at that moment, a story is laid out and a message is revealed. Poet Audre Lourde said, “When we speak, We are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So, it is better to speak.”
"Via color, design, memory, and emotions - I speak!"
Dea: Any tips for aspiring creatives?
Angela: I think it is important for creatives to view the art of past and current artists regardless of race, color, nationality, etc. It is too easy to get caught up in only viewing the art of people who are the same race, culture, nationality, etc. If we study art in school often they may only teach about Western or European artists but I think it is important to study art movements/traditions globally. I encourage students to commit to studying color theory, design, perspective, etc along with exploring diverse art periods including non-European movements, artists featured in museums and galleries in UAE, Qatar, along with historical movements like the Harlem Renaissance, and historical and contemporary African, African American and Caribbean artists.
What a delightful exploration of creativity and textile craftsmanship! We were thrilled to engage in a conversation with Angela, a talented textile artist whose work captivates audiences worldwide. Her pieces are not only visually stunning but also rich in narrative and current issues close to her heart. Angela's passion for textiles shines through in her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to evoke emotion through fabric and color. We look forward to seeing how Angela continues to push the boundaries of textile art and influence the creative community.
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Angela is welcoming opportunities to complete large scale commission works for public and private clients.
Connect with Angela here:
Instagram: @artist.angelacarolefranklin
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