Patrick Francis

Patrick Francis (born Melbourne 1991) is an Australian artist, athlete and author. He is best-known for his colourful depictions of contemporary Melbourne life and as the co-founder (with sister Lesley Francis) of Absolutely Awetistic Arts. In 2014 he won a Victorian Young Achiever Award and in 2012 was the recipient of the prestigious Art & Australia/Credit Suisse Private Banking Contemporary Art Award. In 2013 his work was included in the blockbuster exhibition Melbourne Now at the National Gallery of Victoria and he has exhibited internationally in India, Singapore and Bangkok. His work is held in the collections of the Art Gallery of NSW and Artbank. He has been a studio artist at Arts Project Australia since 2009.

Francis, who has autism and limited speech, began painting as a child, alongside his older sister Lesley Francis. He later studied at Brunswick Special Development School where he had the opportunity to first participate in exhibitions and competitions in 2005. Shortly after leaving the school he and his sister co-founded Absolutely Awetistic Arts an organisation which ''promotes disability awareness and talent in the arts.'' In the same year, Francis began exhibiting his work with Arts Project Australia where he held his first solo show in 2014, and where he continues to work as a studio artist.

In addition to co-founding Absolutely Awetistic Arts, Patrick and Lesley Francis have collaborated on a number of publications (Athlete & Artist, 2012; Bird Tales, 2013; Unity & Diversity, forthcoming), in which text and poetry authored by Lesley accompany illustrations by Patrick. His artwork and community development projects have been multi-awarded. Most notably, Francis was the recipient of the 2012 Art & Australia/Credit Suisse Private Banking Contemporary Art Award and won a Victorian Young Achiever Award in 2014. He is also a successful sportsman who has won medals in both swimming and bowling at national level.

...
Wikipedia