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Sudbury artist will have art displayed at the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York




A young artist is to have her work displayed in New York.

Francesca Edwards, 22, from Sudbury, won a global competition with her abstract artwork, called ‘Light Paintings’.

Two pieces of work will now be displayed permanently on the sixth floor of the Nasdaq stock exchange in Times Square, and for a while on the exterior of the exchange’s light tower as a billboard.

Francesca Edwards at work in her studio
Francesca Edwards at work in her studio

“This is an amazing pinch me moment in my career as a young artist. I am so excited,” said Francesca.

I entered the competition at the beginning of the year and never really expect to win.

"Nasdaq is the second biggest stock exchange in the world and it will showcase my artwork in its global headquarters and on the Times Square light tower, its website and through its social media channels.”

One of the Light paintings which will be displayed.
One of the Light paintings which will be displayed.

Francesca studied art at Loughborough University, where she graduated in 2020, and discovered her passion for modern art.

She is now studying for an MA in curation at the University of Essex.

“The light paintings were stimulated by the concept of colour interaction,” said Francesca.

“I first painted the canvas before projecting digital images of the colours.

The second Light Painting
The second Light Painting

"These projection paintings explore the dialogue that is created between the painted surface and the colour illuminations when colour changing sequences are projected on top of the canvases.

“By combining abstract painting with colour-changing projection, it allows me to see the direct effect that digital light has on painted colour, and how changing the hues of this light can create immersive colour transformations.”

Francesca lists her inspirations as Mark Rothko, Olafur Eliasson, Katharina Grosse and the Abstract Expressionism movement.

Her uncle, John Edwards, was also a muse for contemporary artist Francis Bacon.

To see more of Francesca’s work, go to Instagram and search for @francescaedwardsfineart

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