ABOUT Fran Wijsbeek
From September 2025, FRIDA is home to the colorful world of artist Fran Wijsbeek.
Fran (1999) graduated in Fine Art Painting from AKI in Enschede. Her work moves between dreamlike images and everyday scenes, often exploring the tension between memory, imagination, and the feeling of home. With vibrant colors and a playful yet intimate style, she captures moments that are both personal and universal.
Her paintings will be on view at FRIDA from Friday, September 5, 2025, with a festive opening during FRIDA Friday Art Night.
Below this introduction you can find an English translation and summary of the Dutch podcast Kunst op de Grens, hosted by Gemma Boon, featuring Fran as a guest.
🎧 Listen to the original episode on Spotify: Kunst op de Grens – Fran Wijsbeek
A Morning with Paintings in a Shopping Cart
Fran arrived earlier today with her artwork packed †into a shopping cart. No delivery van, no assistants—just the life of a young artist making her way. “I was worried about the rain while transporting everything,” she laughs, “but luckily it all worked out.”
From this week onward, FRIDA is surrounded by her vibrant works. And on Friday, Fran takes center stage during FRIDA Friday Art Night. “It’s exciting,” she admits. “I’m always a bit nervous when the focus is on me, but I’m curious to see how people respond.”
From Sculpture to Painting
Fran studied Fine Art Painting at the AKI in Enschede. Interestingly, she began her studies as a sculptor, creating large ceramic pieces based on dreamlike images—sometimes even nightmares. “I used to have vivid dreams, often frightening ones. To confront them, I recreated them in clay. At one point, I built giant slimy slugs. It became a kind of exposure therapy—the fear lessened once it turned into art.”
Halfway through her studies, Fran switched fully to painting. “It felt more natural. I’ve painted ever since, often still inspired by dream images but also by my surroundings, my friends, and my pets. Ultimately, I make art for myself—works that bring me joy because they remind me of home.”
Everyday Scenes, Vibrant Colors
Fran’s best-known piece so far might be the large painting once displayed at Enschede’s city hall, also featured on AKI graduation posters. It marked a turning point for her—her first large canvas, painted with bold neon colors and looser brushstrokes.
Other works, such as her bright yellow student kitchen scene, capture intimate everyday moments. “It shows my housemates cooking together on a Friday night, something that felt like home to me,” Fran explains. “The figures remain anonymous, but the atmosphere is personal.”
Letting Go and Moving Forward
At 25, Fran is no longer a student, and her works—many of which are for sale at FRIDA—also carry the bittersweet feeling of moving on. “These paintings are my happy spaces. Letting them go isn’t easy, but I’m glad when others want to live with them. I can always create new works inspired by new experiences.”
Her dream? “I’ve applied for the Royal Art Prize. Being nominated would be a huge step, even if the chances are small.”
