Frankie Hansbearry breathes life into artistic forms, from ceramic dogs and papier-mâché masks to vibrant mosaics and figures that resemble ancient artifacts.
The Oak Park artist credits much of her inspiration to National Geographic magazines she flipped through as a kid.
“Those images just fascinated me,” she says. “They were so different than the life I grew up with in a very homogenous community. Something about those images of artifacts from ancient sites really interested me—the rawness, the fascination that so-called ‘primitive peoples’ could have the ability to create images in such an interesting way.”
Hansbearry’s artistic expression took a while to unfold. She liked art growing up, but nobody encouraged her to pursue it. When her children were old enough, she took a college class by default.
She wanted an aerobics class, but it was full. She settled for lessons in watercolor.
“I thought, ‘Wait a second—I like art, don’t I?’” she says.
The class led Hansbearry to quit her job as a legal secretary and work as an afterschool art program assistant. From there she learned papier-mâché, “A very low-cost thing to do with a classroom of kids,” she says.
Her fascination with the human form finally had an outlet and her work blossomed. Ceramics followed, thanks to an artist friend who handed her a lump of clay and said, “Here, play with this.”
Hansbearry has exhibited work in clay, paper and mixed media around the region in solo and group exhibitions, including the State Fair and PBS KVIE Art Auction. She’s participated in Verge Center for the Arts Sac Open Studios for almost 20 years.
Her work is easy to find. Hansbearry moved into public art through artistic mentor Donna Billick, whom Hansbearry describes as “a master of large-scale projects.” Hansbearry studied with Billick for three years.
Under that tutelage, Hansbearry landed a project with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission: a mosaic mural for Oak Park Community Center.
More public art followed, including murals in tile and paint for Wellspring Women’s Center, Crestwood Manor, Bill Bean Jr. Community Garden, UC Davis Medical Center and Sacramento Food Bank.
The murals feature organic forms and people, though some of her most familiar work depicts quirky animals.
“People always ask if I have pets and my answer is, ‘I’d rather not,’” she says. “We have grandkids and they have pets. But animals are great vehicles for expressing the whole range of human emotion, from the angelic to the demonic. It’s easier to swallow when you look at your own frailties with a touch of humor.”
These days Hansbearry tests her frailties with a new medium: porcelain.
“It’s very temperamental, so there are moments of terror,” she says. “But it has certain qualities that really captured my attention. I’m looking forward to experimenting without pressure.”
With any project or medium, Hansbearry brings a healthy dose of curiosity and openness. She seeks those qualities in comrades.
“I don’t get out as much as I should, but Sac Open Studios has enabled me to meet other ceramic artists,” she says. “The ones I gravitate toward most are women. I love artists. I think they’re the greatest people—earthy, very little pretense. I’m so happy to be part of this community.”
Check out Hansbearry’s work at a pop-up holiday art show sponsored by the Oak Park Business Association on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5–9 p.m. at Patris Art Studio & Gallery, 3460 2nd Ave.
For information, visit frankiehansbearryart.com.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
