ARTIST STATEMENT
Memory is another world, the “in-between” of then and now. I feel a strange paradox in recognizing my inability to stay in the past, and yet never feeling able to fully leave it. As I stand on the cusp of many transitions as a college graduate, I find myself looking back. Like everyone else, I have been shaped by my experiences and memories. I am afraid to let go and risk losing them and with them, myself. My drawings are a way to protect and honor the memories that have shaped me. The moments I’ve chosen aren’t important or significant, but they felt peaceful, warm, and real. I create charcoal and conté drawings that focus on shadow and light. Many of my drawings involve figures and memories, based on photos I have taken on a pink toy camera throughout my life.
My work plays with the balance of realism and ambiguity. I am drawn to the beauty of seemingly mundane moments of everyday life, nature, and the connection between people. Like the way I saw the world as a child, the images are both simplified and bursting with life. As a result, my compositions are vivid and full, but remain slightly out of focus—similarly to how memories often feel. The fullness of my compositions invites viewers to slow down in order to absorb the detail, pattern, and values. I hope to provide a contemplative space for viewers to process their own memories and emotions while interacting with mine.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Lulu Franke is a visual artist based in Chicago. Her artistic practice spans drawing, illustration, design, and occasional ventures into printmaking. Lulu’s work explores themes of light, reflection, memory, and the human figure, often drawing inspiration from her own photographs—particularly those that capture motion, blur, or moments just beyond focus. These visual fragments serve as starting points for pieces that invite stillness and contemplation. Through her drawings, Lulu aims to create a space for visual rest. She believes that richly detailed art can offer a form of peace—encouraging viewers to linger, notice, and reflect through sustained observation. Lulu earned her BA in Studio Art from Wheaton College (IL), where she was inducted into the Scholastic Honor Society. While at Wheaton, she was deeply involved in the Art Department and worked as a teaching assistant in the Walford Gallery. These experiences sparked a passion for collaboration and community with other artists. Since graduating, Lulu continues to nurture her curiosity and remains committed to evolving her practice through exploration and connection.
© Lulu Franke Barker