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Spring Break Afternoon #3 - Allegorical Painting on Canvas. Yellow, and Blue

Creator: Francks Deceus
Offered by: Arco Gallery

Description
This painting, Spring Break Afternoon #3 by Francks Deceus, radiates a vibrant sense of movement and freedom while subtly alluding to societal boundaries. The composition features countless yellow circular floaters populated with tiny, colorful human figures, drifting across a serene blue expanse. Deceus’s dynamic diagonal flow evokes a collective sense of leisure and release, inviting viewers to experience the optimism of spring break, moments Deceus recalls from his college years as glimpses into the American dream. The interplay of golden yellow against tranquil blue lends the piece an ethereal, uplifting energy, making it a striking focal point for modern interiors.

At the base of the composition, a bold black-and-white striped border introduces a layer of subtle tension, hinting at limitations even in moments of joy and liberation. This recurring motif within the series reflects Deceus’s exploration of freedom within societal structures—a delicate balance between release and restriction. The dispersed arrangement of the floaters, more open and expansive than earlier works, mirrors a feeling of optimism and possibility, elevating this piece beyond abstraction to become a profound narrative of self-actualization. Deceus’s ability to infuse both emotional resonance and visual rhythm makes Spring Break Afternoon #3 a standout contemporary work, ideal for collectors and design enthusiasts seeking art that blends color, movement, and conceptual depth.

Francks F. Deceus was born in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, moving to NY when he was nine years old, where he has been living and creating ever since. Throughout his career, Francks has developed a unique modernist style where figures distilled to their pure features are layered in an abstract world evocative of our modern society.
His work relates to artists like Norman Lewis and Howarddena Pindell in using unconventional texture and rich color and how it focuses on African-American urban life and his community's struggles.

Group exhibitions include the Brooklyn Museum, NY; Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts (MOCADA), Brooklyn, NY; The National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, TN; Gallery M, New York, NY; and Hampton University, Hampton, VA.

His work is in private and public collections, including Xavier University, New Orleans, LA; Schomburg Center, New York Public Library, NY; Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site House museum, Yonkers; New York, and International African American Museum, Charleston, SC;

His work has been featured in publications such as The International Revue of African-American Art and The Village Voice and included in "100 New York Painters "by Cynthia Maris Dantzic.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	New
Materials:	Canvas,Mixed Media,Acrylic
Condition:	New.
Styles / Movements:	Contemporary
Dealer Reference #:	FD080
Incollect Reference #:	752113

Dimensions

W.	46 in;	H.	34 in;	D.	1.5 in;
W.	116.84 cm;	H.	86.36 cm;	D.	3.81 cm;

Message from Seller:

Arco Gallery, founded in 2013 by Valentina Puccioni, offers a truly personalized art experience in the heart of SoHo, NYC. Located in a historic loft and open by appointment only, the gallery provides exclusive, intimate viewings, away from the mainstream gallery scene. P: 212.226.1207 E: valentina@arcogallery.com