Painting her path: Award winning artist Alexandra Franz

A 2025 graduate from the School of Art at the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), Alexandra Franz majored in art history, minored in fine art and received a museum studies certificate, a blend of disciplines that reflects her evolving interests and artistic ambitions. Franz describes her academic journey as one guided by exploration rather than expectation.

“I began my time at DAAP majoring in fine art, however, after my first semester I realized that art history was more suited for my goals and standards, so I switched my major”, she said. “Art history served as the bridge between formalism and context and underlined how culture and creativity intersect across time. I later discovered the museum studies certificate, which tied everything I enjoy together.”

The academic journey has been guided less by conventional planning and more by following genuine interests, a choice that has enriched her education and opened new paths in her art practice. Taking classes that were unexpected, encouraged interests she never knew she had, such as the history of music to cultural approaches. “I’ve always followed my passions rather than doing conforming to what others expect of me, even in an academic setting” Franz said. “Some of my most meaningful discoveries came from taking classes that seemed unrelated or unexpected.”

She also cites an Advanced 2D Studio class with Professor Emil Robinson, where additional focused mentorship and constructive feedback and critique helped refine her fine art practice. Additionally, a challenging French course that deepened her understanding of how historical and political contexts shape art. 

Franz’s academic growth is mirrored by her growing presence in the art world. An accomplished artist, she began entering competitions in high school, where she earned over 70 awards at the high school level and began exhibiting work at the professional level. Her early success, she said, was determination and the willingness to take risks. 

While in high school, Franz submitted her work to a national professional exhibition at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, which was her first professionally competitive performance. Seeing her work displayed alongside artists she admired and respected reaffirmed her confidence in her artistic voice.  “It was an honor to see my work carefully curated and installed on a gallery wall,” she said. “Meeting artists there and making connections fueled my drive. It was worth far more than the entry fee.”

She has since earned merit awards through professionally competitive national exhibitions, participated in exhibitions across the country and internationally, and received grants, including recognition from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, one of the most respected funders supporting emerging international representational artists. 

Franz’s artwork explores metaphysical, formal, and conceptual relationships between subject, environment, and medium. Her paintings are of portraits, figures, interior spaces, and flowers, mostly completed from life and brings an expressive formal language to shape, color, and composition.

Since graduating, Franz is applying to Master of Fine Arts programs that allow her to further investigate phenomenology and metaphysics in painting. Reflecting on her UC experience, she offers advice for current and future Bearcats.

“If you have the opportunity, explore classes outside your discipline,” she said. “Follow those key essences that spark your interest, that make you curious and cause you to consider things differently. Despite their relevance to your major or concentration, chances are there’s a way in which they could be incorporated in an unexpected way.” She also emphasizes the importance of writing and historical knowledge as an artist, as these are skills that deepen creative insight and contextual understanding. 

“Learning to write well helps you read better, think better, and communicate better,” she said. “Art history gives all contemporary artwork work context and relative concept. No matter how interested or disinterested you are in contextualizing your work, if you don’t, others will. Franz said that thoughtful mentorship, unexpected classes and open curiosity have shaped her path, a creative journey that continues to evolve. As she concludes, “some of the most inspiring classes were ones I thought would be something different, everything led me back to painting my path.”

Featured image at top of Franz in the studio. Photo provided by Franz.