Nanci France-Vaz
Selected Works
Balancing Between 2 Worlds, oil, copper, gold and colored leaf on Aluminum Panel, 24”x30”
Life Path Oil, copper, gold leaf on Linen Panel, 36”x40”
Woodstock, Another Time, Another Place oil, gold, copper leaf on aluminum panel, 18’x24’
The Offering oil on aluminum panel, 18”x24”
Mujrapradama Mudra & The 3rd Eye, oil on copper, 12”x12”
Breathe -The feeling you get on a windy day, glass cane and external silver foil, 14” H x 13” W x 3” D
Standing the Hands of Time, Campiano Village Italy oil on aluminum 5”x7”
Coast of Porto Venere, Cinque Terre, Italy oil on aluminum panel, 5”x7”
About France-Vaz
Nanci France-Vaz is an Allegorical Realist and uses symbolism to create visual stories on canvas. France-Vaz draws inspiration from the Pre-Raphaelite and Naturalist periods of art, poetry, and classic literature. She combines her strong foundation in life painting with imaginative backgrounds fusing classical with contemporary realism. The most recent paintings are from The Bohemian Spirits and the Femme Fatale series. The paintings concepts are based on classical literature and poems, introducing a modern subject or twist to the story. These series combine hope, spiritual beliefs, and the human condition of women. Most of her models are professional musicians, artists, actors, and dancers because of their passion and creative connection. The spiritual, the mystical, and the mythical have underlying tones and meanings left for the beholder to ponder and engage psychologically. Her study of lighting and movement, through acting, dance, and theater is the catalyst for creating a still image from a cinematic process. France-Vaz’s patterns of life express a life experience or moment of thought in time.
“As a painter, my greatest desire is to express the human condition of strongwomen from past myths, poems, and classic tales using contemporary concepts and subjects. In a socially detached world, I intend to draw an emotional response from the viewer by evoking my subject’s psychological moments and mood in the environment. As human beings, we have many layers, past and present patterns that are constantly moving from one form or idea into another.” - Nanci France-Vaz
Professional Experience:
2012-present Nanci France-Vaz Fine Art/The Asbury Park Atelier of Art
Portrait/Figurative Artist
Commissioned portrait/figurative painter of Contemporary & Classical
realism.
2016-present Ducret School of Art-Faculty Instructor/Workshops
Classical and Contemporary Portrait/Figure Painting and drawing.
Combined Phtography training using a DSLR high end camera for
references.
The Art Guild, Shrewesbury, NJ
Fine Art Instructor of portrait/figurative painting and drawing of
Classical/Contemporary Realism combining photography for reference.
2010-present
Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
Fine Art Instructor of portrait/figurative painting and drawing of
Classical/Contemporary Realism, Art History lectures,
painting/photography workshops
2002- 2003 James Child's Studio / Drawing Academy of the Atlantic- NYC, NY
Studio assistant to Mr. Child's for painting commissions and private
Study of the Bargue method from the French Academy.
Education:
2002-2007 Grand Central Academy- NYC
Portrait/Figure painting/ drawing in style of Academic Classical Realism
The Art Students League- NYC
Figure/Portrait painting – Nelson Shanks , Michael Grimaldi
The New York Academy of Art- NYC
Portrait/Figurative drawing and painting- Dan Thompson
The Water Street Atelier-Brooklyn,NY
Figure/Portrait drawing, Dan Thompson
1992-1997 School of Visual Arts
BFA – Classical Portrait/Figure Painting
Awards/Exhibitions:
2021- ModPortrait, Artelibre, Meam Museum, Barcelona
2021-International Artists magazine People and figures Challenge 122, Out of Eden
2021-ARC Salon, Figurative, Imaginative Realism Categories
2021-Radical Botanicals Group Show, Lovetts Gallery
2021- Holiday Group Show, Lovetts Gallery
IGOR Annual Exhibit, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
2020-Small Works Exhibition, Lovetts Gallery
2020- Duets Exhibition, Lovetts Gallery
2019-Enigma Exhibition, Lovetts Gallery
2019-Abend Gallery 5x5 Project
2019- Open Painting, Sculpture, graphics salmagundi exhibit, 1 st Place Oils
2019-ARC Finalist Figurative Category
2019-Allied Artists of America, Finalist, Salmagundi Club
2018-Gallery at Zhou B Art, Artsy Online Gallery, featured artists
2018-28 th Annual Holiday Miniature show, Abend Gallery, Denver, Co
2018- The Artist Choice Award, Gateway International Competition
2018-Top Finalist Gateway International Competition
2018- Allied Artists of America 105th Annual Juried Exhibit, Salmagundi Club NYC
2018- Gateway International Competition, the Artists Choice Award
2017- Boldbrush Painting Contest March, April/July/September/October FAV15% finalist
2017- ARC 13 th Annual Salon, finalist Figurative Category
2017- Rhapsodies of Life, Solo exhibit, Swains Gallery, Plainfiled, NJ
2017-9th Annual Figurative Exhibit, Lore Degenstein Gallery, group show
2017- Bold Brush Instagram Winner, Self Portrait
2017-Oil Painters of America National Exhibit, Finalist, Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati, Oh
2016- Allied Artists of America 103 Annual Show, Len G Everett Memorial Award, NY
2016-PSOA finalist for 2 categories- Out of the Box & Non Commissioned Portrait
2016- ARC Salon 2016, Finalist
2016- Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibit, Finalist, Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati, Oh
2016-Bold Brush Painting contest Fav Top 15%
2016- HVAA Annual Juried Show finalist, Salmagundi Club, NYC
2015-Catherine Lorillard Wolfe 119th Annual Juried Show, National Arts Club, NYC
2015-American Artists Professional League 87th Grand National Show, Salmagundi Club, NYC
2015- American Woman Artists, finalist, Juried Show
2015- Bold Brush Painting contest top 15 FAV
2015- Francesca Anderson Fine Art Gallery, Annual Portrait Exhibit
2014- AAPL 86 th Grand National Show, The Colonel George J Morales Award for Rebel. Rebel
2014- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, Portrait of Lloyd Price, Cleveland, Ohio
2014- Women Painting Women International Exhibit, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
2013-AAPL Annual Juried Show, John Collins Memorial Award
2013- Women Painting Women Exhibit, Gallery U, Westfield, NJ
2013-Allied Artists of America 100 th Anniversary Juried show, finalist, National Arts Club, NY
2012-Love and Observed Group Exhibit, Hersch Fine Art Gallery, Salon Catalog Cover
2012-Art Renewal Center International Salon 2011-2012, finalist in Figurative Category
2011-Art Renewal Center International Salon 2010-2011, finalist in Figurative Category
2011-ACOPAL National Juried Show, Top 100 finalists USA
2009-Huntington Arts “Masters Show”, 3 Man Show, Petite Gallery, Huntington, NY
2009-Huntington Arts Fall Juried show, Best in Show, Petite Gallery, Huntington, NY
2009-Portrait Society of America 2009, 3rd place, Members Showcase
Publications:
Fine Art Connoisseur- Figurative Arts showcase, Out of Eden
International Artists Magazine, April/May Issue 2021
Art Renewal Center 13th Annual Salon Catalog, Figurative Category
American Art Collector Magazine, May Issue 2017, OPA National Exhibit
PoetsArtists Magazine: The Family Edition, Peace Within
Featured Story July issue of X.it magazine for Monmouth Arts Council
Westfield Patch, Ekphrasis & Words Exhibit with poet Gwynneth Green
NY Optimist Featured Artist
Featured Artist Fine Art Views for Bold Brush Painting Contest
Interview Featured Artist for The Art Edge
Women Painting Women International Salon Catalog 2014
Featured Artist The NY Optimist
Women Painting Women Video of Exhibit at Principle gallery, Madder Deep Publishing
AAPL 86 th Grand National Exhibition Catalog 2014, front cover for “The Wish”
Art of the Portrait Journal for In a Moment, The Wish, and Lloyd Price
Video Interview for Women Painting Women, Asbury Park Press
Asbury Park Press Sunday Best cover for The Wish
“Who’s Who in American Art 2013-2016
International Artists Magazine 2009 for In a Moment,
Art Renewal Center Salon Catalog 2011 & 2012