Presenting

FRANCESKA SCHIFRIN and Al WALTON

June 7-August 7, 2025

About the artisTs

Al Walton (1/26/45 - 1/4/24)

 An alumnus of Otis Art Institute, the artist Al Walton was a true Renaissance man, a multimedia talent and hyphenate in all the best ways. A published poet, he wrote this in Why write?

“As a child I drew.

Filled every available surface,

lined tablets meant for numbers and words,

backs of grocery sacks, pieces of press board,

discarded envelopes”

He acted, performed and toured in bands, was a photographer rep, a project manager and producer for post-production houses in Hollywood, eventually starting his own facility. He also taught Tai Chi Chuan. And he drew. And he painted.

 “My process is discovery, he said. “My surprise when familiar elements coalesce into an image both familiar and intriguing.”

 The familiar and intriguing beings that people his “organically abstract” works in this exhibition include a green angel, a man of grace, a refugee, a man with heart, and multiple spirits from his powerful Cargo series. Of this series, he said that research into his family origins led directly to the Middle Passage. People as cargo.

 “These images are visual impressions of that brutal practice, recognition of the inhumanity that fueled it and respect for the humanity that survives.” He said working on this series was very healing for him.

He exhibited his work in Los Angeles and his paintings were featured in the Apple TV Plus show “Shrinking.”

 Born in El Paso, Texas, Albert C. Walton died in Los Angeles after a series of health issues.

Galerie Lakaye is honored to host the inspiring works of this inspiring human being and artist.

 Franceska Schifrin

Franceska Schifrin was born in 1960 in Topanga, California.  A trip to Mexico with her artist father, Arnold Schifrin, changed her life.  Fascinated with the sheer amount of visual stimulus in that country, she embarked on extended visits to the countries whose people and life circumstances inspire her numerous canvasses and works on paper.  During more than fifteen years, she spent as many as six months per year in countries like Haiti, Uganda, Guatemala, Nepal, Bosnia, Morocco and Cuba.  She sets up her sketching pad in the streets, marketplaces, cafes, churches and in people's homes, immersing herself in those countries' cultures in order to capture the emotional images that inform her work.

Franceska's concerns are with the human form as it displays emotion, spirituality, and personal force in daily life.  With the use of oil on canvas and mixed media works on paper, she also successfully exposes economic prejudice, sexism and worldwide racism.  On a deeper, more personal level is the artist's intent to explore underdeveloped peoples' way of merging traditional lifestyles with the contemporary world's economics, politics, religions and technology.  Through her passionate utilization and deft knowledge of paint quality, color and form, she more than achieves this goal. 

Franceska attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  Since then, she has exhibited in over fifty group and one person shows throughout California and New York.  In 1991, she was awarded the prestigious J. Paul Getty Trust Fund/Fellowship for the Visual Arts. 

Franceska’s work continues to be inspired by the places she travels to and the people she loves, creating beautiful and burning images.  

Franceska currently lives with her husband and two children in Los Angeles, California.   She is available for commissions.