about:
Franko B is currently Professor of Sculpture at l’Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti di Torino (appointed 2016).
Previously, he was Professor of Sculpture at l’Accademia di Belle Arte di Macerata (2009-2016), Associated Lecturer in Fine Art at The University of Northampton (2016), guest lecturer at The Royal College of Art, London and has presented lectures about his work at numerous arts institutions across Europe and the US.
“As a ‘teacher’, my job is not to attempt to teach how to make a beautiful object or performance or film, but to facilitate the development of visual / artistic language, and to channel the personal, political and poetic concerns of the artist.
I have no particular tricks up my sleeve, and nothing concrete to teach per se, except for the power of language. Language is fundamental, not just in terms of the particular ‘idea’, but also its purpose, its capacity to engage and communicate, and the way in which the idea may be interpreted.
Every artwork opens up a dialogue that is not merely one-way, but is about sharing and being receptive to alternative ideas, responses, visions, points of view. My role is to ask questions, which, if successful, lead to more questions (rather than answers), and fuel an on-going process of inquiry, exploration and critical discussion.
All I have to share is my vision, my madness, hope, passion, despair, my desire, my motivations. I believe my role as a teacher is to suggest and inspire a sense of what could be possible, to imagine it and dare to realize it. To embrace the possibility of failure and always carry on learning.”
- Franko B (2016)
guest lectures
Franko B has presented guest lectures about his work widely, including at Ruskin School of Art [Oxford], Central St Martins [London], Bath School of Art and Design, Chelsea College of Art [London], New York University, University of Birmingham, The Courtauld Institute [London], Das Arts [Amsterdam], The Royal College of Art [London], Goldsmiths College of Art [London], Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art [Dundee], Zurich University of the Arts, Accademia di Belle Arte di Brera [Milan], California College of Art [San Francisco], Limerick School of Art and Design, UWE [Bristol], University of Southampton, Queen MAry University [London], Accedemia di Belle Arte di Naples, Folrence Trust [London], The Freud Museum [London], Portsmouth University, Accedemia di Belle Arte di Bologna, Hull School of Fine Art, University of Leeds, Sheffield Halem University, and many more.
workshops:
• Unloved - Rua Red Gallery, Dublin (2019)
• Stalker - The Foundary, Maurgbourget, Midi-Pyranees, France (2018)
• Death & Romance - International workshop in performance led by Franko B with 16 participants (29th August - 3rd September 2016)
• Personal Political Poetic [Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata, Italy] (2015)
• Corpo e Crudelita [Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata, Italy] (2013)
• Scream Your Autobiography [Artsadmin, London] (2013)
• Franko B Workshop [First Site, Colchester] (2013)
• Workshop at The National Theatre [London] (2013)
• Who Are You? [Short Theatre, Rome] (2012)
• Performance Week (workshop at The Royal college of Art) [London] (2012)
• Long Live Romance [Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata, Italy] (2009)
• Winter School [National Review of Live Art, Glasgow] (2009)
• Workshop at De Montfort University [Leicester] (2008)
• Workshop at Das Arts [Amsterdam] (2007)
• NRLA Winter School [Glasgow] (2004)
• Franko B Summer School [Artsadmin, London] (2004)
mentoring:
Franko B mentored seventeen young artists as part of a year-long professional development mentoring scheme, realised in association with Arts Admin [London] in 2006-2007 and again in 2007-2008, as well as several other artists over the years.