ALBA FRANCESCA paints with textiles. She is inspired by the excitement and diversity of life.
Fabric allows her to express herself in personal, sometimes humorous, and visually stunning ways.
Alba was born in Florence, Italy to American artist parents. When she was three they moved to Mexico for two years, prior to settling in the United States where the family restored and lived in a three-hundred-year-old house on eastern Long Island, New York.
Alba has a degree in Art History from Finch College in New York City, with a specialty in Asian and African art. She studied in France, Italy, England and Spain. She is the recipient of The Cosgrave Award from Finch College which recognizes distinguished graduates. She sits on the Finch Alumni Association Board which provides scholarships for women’s education. She also mentors one of these scholars.
Alba’s mother, Sophie, taught her to quilt when she graduated from college and she has been making textile pieces ever since while continuing a totally separate career in the entertainment industry. Separate but not unrelated.
Alba began acting at the age of ten in the theater. She later moved into television and film where she worked as an actress, writer, director, and producer. She formed her own development and production company.
Telling stories cinematically and storytelling with textiles are similar. A film is made with multiple scenes that are cut up and rearranged to tell a story. Alba’s textile creations take pieces of cloth that she cuts up and rearranges to tell a new visual story.
Alba currently sits on the Western Council of the Entertainment Community Fund (previously the Actors Fund) and focuses on affordable housing for entertainment workers. The Hollywood Arts Collective opened Spring of 2023 in the heart of Hollywood as the only 100% affordable Los Angeles housing development for persons in entertainment and the arts.
The inspirations for Alba’s textiles come from her life experiences and her unique eye for design and beauty. She strives to visually express her most personal point of view which is often with humor.
Alba was happily married to the late actor, James Karen. Life continues in Los Angeles filled with challenging and exciting work, creative pursuits, friends, family, and adventures on the road, at sea, in the air, and in faraway places.
COMMISSIONS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Morgan Freeman Family Collection Charleston, MS
Dr. Tracey Goessel Collection Los Angeles, CA
Robert Nankin Los Angeles, CA
Patricia & Breaux Castleman Collection Washington, D.C.
The Mandell Collection of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
Sandra Lloyd Collection San Francisco, CA
Molly Doyle Collection Hollywood, CA
Olivia & Dean Mandell Shulman Collection Las Vegas, NV
Charles Dubin Family Collection Los Angeles, CA
Damon & Rebecca Farber Collection Minneapolis, MN
Obron & Shola Farber Collection East Hampton, NY
Aviva & Ken Baumann Collection Santa Fe, NM
Collin Finn McSheehan Collection Mill Creek, WA
Willow McSheehan Collection Mill Creek, WA
Ava Salomon Collection Los Angeles, CA
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Griffiths Hickey Collection Vancouver, Canada
Svea Barret Collection Minneapolis, MN
Sandy & Aram Farber Collection Santa Fe, NM
William Costello Family Collection East Hampton, NY
Willow McSheehan Collection Mill Creek, WA
Calan Michael Palotay Collection Los Angeles, CA
Tony Timmons & Gary Ledbetter Collection Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Hyatt Family Collection Los Angeles, CA
Waldman Family Collection Paoli, PA
exhibitions
Alba’s work has been exhibited at The National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky; The Pen and Brush, New York City; throughout California in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ontario, Pasadena, Monrovia, Glendale and Atwater; Myrtle Beach, North Carolina; St Charles, Illinois; Reno, Nevada; Cinncinatti, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Lincoln, Nebraska; Oahu, Hawaii, and in Switzerland.
Professional Affiliations
Studio Art Quilt Associates
American Quilters Society
The Alliance for American Quilts