German-Hungarian illustrator, Franziska Barczyk, graduated from Ontario College of Art and Design in illustration in 2008. Barczyk, who lives in Toronto, says city life agrees with her. She’s lived in several cities since emigrating to Canada, among them, Montréal, Manhattan, Amsterdam and Berlin.
She’s been influenced by Surrealism and Dadaism, movement, dance, music, pattern, geometry and the visual irony all around her. Current events are also a source of inspiration. Barczyk will most likely be drawing when you see her. She carries a sketchbook nearly everywhere she goes.
Her illustration has been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, La Repubblica, MIT Technology Review, VICE, Ad Age, Fast Company, Brunswick Review, BuzzFeed, The Walrus, just to name a few.
Her illustration has been featured by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), UNESCO, Pentagram, NBC News, Spectrum News, NPR and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Barczyk’s work was published in The New York Times, “Year of Notable Art, Year in Illustration” in 2016 and she was featured in Communication Arts in 2018. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, and International Motion Arts.
She’s exhibited her art in group shows in Germany, The Netherlands and Canada. Barczyk has shown work in two solo exhibitions in Toronto: ‘Bodies’ (2016) and ‘Blue’ (2018).
Her figurative collage incorporates pattern, bold color, line and geometric shapes. Barczyk’s focus is on social issues and contemporary themes that provide social comment on a broad range of topics.