Franshesca (Franshesca Oliveras)

Franshesca Oliveras | Bridget | 2025

Your portraits radiate strength and vulnerability at once. How do you choose your subjects, and what draws you to them?

I choose people who move me — sometimes in ways I can’t explain. There’s an instant connection that goes beyond appearances. I’m drawn not just to their faces, but to their movements, their smiles, the way they carry the weight of their lives. It’s as if I can see past the surface and step into their stories.

These are people with lessons to teach me. At this stage of my life, I look up to them. I observe, I listen, I learn. Sometimes we don’t exchange a single word, yet a silent conversation takes place in my mind. I study them, and I absorb their strength until it becomes part of my work.

You describe painting as your “practice of stillness and belief.” Could you elaborate on what this means to you on a daily level?

As a busy mother of two energetic kids, my days are always full of movement, and stillness is rare. Painting offers me that precious moment of calm—a chance to quiet my mind and connect deeply with my soul. In those moments, I imagine sharing a peaceful coffee with my subject at a small café by the beach, sitting together in silence as I listen and learn from them. It’s also a practice of belief, because I never know exactly what will appear on the canvas. I imagine the power they make me feel and trust that I can translate that feeling into color, texture, and expression.

Franshesca Oliveras | Lola | 2025

How has your background in architecture and graphic design influenced the way you approach portraiture?

The most valuable lesson I took from both architecture and graphic design is the importance of connection — to feel what I’m creating. Architecture taught me about the flow of space; graphic design taught me about the power of color. Together, they gave me a deep understanding of proportion, rhythm, and negative space, both in 2D and 3D.

Years of working in these disciplines trained my eye to create structure while still embracing instinct. Now, I use those tools to create portraits that are not just likenesses, but meaningful connections between the viewer and the subject. AND THE SPACE.

Franshesca Oliveras | Josephine | 2025

What does the concept of “The Fire Keeper” mean to you personally?

For me, “The Fire Keeper” is the one who protects the inner flame — courage, wisdom, and identity — even when the world tries to diminish it. It’s inspired by women in my family and community who have kept traditions, stories, and dignity alive, often quietly but with tremendous strength. They are the women I look up to, and they are a reflection of my past, my present, and my future.

Franshesca Oliveras | Ava | 2025

Do you see your work as a form of activism in a society that often devalues aging and invisibilizes older women?

Yes. My portraits are acts of visibility. By placing older women at the center — celebrating their beauty, complexity, and presence — I challenge narrow cultural ideas of value and beauty. It’s a quiet activism, but it speaks clearly: You are seen. You matter. Your story must be told. You are the revolution.

Franshesca Oliveras | Ana | 2025

Many of your portraits have a dark background that contrasts with radiant facial expressions—what is the symbolic intention behind this aesthetic?

The dark background removes distractions, focusing all attention on the subject. Symbolically, it represents life’s challenges, the uncertainty, and the shadows we all carry. Against that darkness, the illuminated face becomes a beacon of resilience, hope, and inner light. It’s a visual declaration: I am light. I am power. I am here.

Franshesca Oliveras | Alice | 2025

What conversations or emotions do you hope your viewers experience when they stand in front of one of your portraits?

I hope they see beyond the surface and recognize the immense power women hold within—the strength forged through life’s challenges, the resilience that refuses to be diminished, and the fierce spirit that continues to burn brightly. My portraits are a celebration of that inner fire, a reminder that true power often lives in quiet confidence and lived experience. I want the audience to feel that energy, to see what I see: women who carry wisdom, courage, and an unstoppable force that inspires and teaches us all. It’s about honoring their power and inviting others to recognize and embrace their own.