Larry Francis

Larry Francis serves as a Continuing Education Instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), teaching Landscape Painting and Narrative Drawing in both the Certificate/BFA program and Continuing Education division. A lifelong Philadelphia native, he developed his artistic practice through decades of street painting throughout the city and received formal training at PAFA, where he earned the J. Henry Schiedt European Traveling Scholarship in 1970.

His educational foundation at PAFA culminated in the prestigious European Traveling Scholarship, providing early career development opportunities that informed his distinctive approach to urban landscape painting.

Francis's artistic practice centers on Philadelphia cityscapes and narrative-driven painting, with emphasis on direct observation of urban environments. His work demonstrates a mastery of figurative composition and atmospheric perspective, transforming ordinary street scenes into compelling visual stories that capture the city's evolving character through meticulous attention to architectural detail and human interaction.

His notable achievements include:

• Julius Hallgarten Prize from Academy of Design, New York (1972)
• Mary Butler Award from Fellowship of PAFA (1996)
• Charles Knox Smith Founders Prize at Woodmere Art Museum (2002)
• Prize for Painting at Cheltenham Art Center (2011)

Francis maintains an active exhibition schedule through Gross McCleaf Gallery, where he has presented twelve solo shows. His work enters significant collections including Noyes Museum of New Jersey and Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The documentary film 'Larry Francis: Painting Philadelphia' by John Thornton chronicles his street-level artistic process, highlighting his commitment to capturing authentic urban experiences through direct observation.

While primarily focused on studio practice and instruction, Francis contributes to Philadelphia's cultural landscape through ongoing engagement with the city's physical environment as both subject and teaching tool, influencing new generations of artists through PAFA's academic programs.