David Franklin

David started creating public art in my teens as a member of a graffiti crew, cutting stencils and painting them in abandoned rail yards near downtown Denver, CO. It was an inauspicious (not to mention undisciplined) beginning, but the overall experience made him acutely aware of my deep-seated desire to connect with humanity and have a chance to do large-scale installations.

That seemed an impossible dream at the time: he had no formal art training and no clear avenues for developing the skills that would make him a viable contender in the public art arena. So in the early nineties he moved to the Northwest for a fresh start and began seeking people to help him realize my goal. Enter Duane Pasco, a successful regional artist known for being a part of the revival of Northwest Coast Native Art and creating monumental freestanding and integrated sculptures. He spent nearly a decade as his apprentice, gaining not only the graphic and sculptural skills he needed to propel my own art forward, but first-hand experience with large-scale art production—everything from concept and design to fabrication and installation.

Today, by integrating my roots in graffiti with his training in native sculpture and graphics, he seeks to create an instant connection between the viewer and my art. He wants people to “get” his art the way we all “get” petroglyphs—on an innate level, independent of history or heritage.

In the past 20 years David has developed a diverse portfolio that features work in a variety of styles and media, including metal, glass, and wood. In the public art realm, he’s been fortunate to secure several well-placed, high profile commissions. He’s also had the privilege of teaching at the renowned Marc Adams School of Woodworking, and have twice been awarded the prestigious John Michael Kohler Arts/Industry Residency.

Like most of life’s many satisfying accomplishments, his success as an artist is the result of creative collaboration. He owes an enormous debt of gratitude to each of the mentors, muses, and co-workers who have inspired him over the years. In many ways, he considers his work as much theirs as his own.