Step into the evolving world of contemporary representational art with acclaimed Colorado-based painter Zoey Frank. In this deeply engaging biographical interview, Zoey shares the artistic journey that led her to become one of the most compelling voices in modern painting today. Known for her dynamic approach to figurative and still-life painting, Zoey explores how observation, curiosity, and iteration shape the emotional depth and subtle abstraction found in her work. From her early fascination with painting to her rigorous artistic training and rapidly growing body of collector-favored pieces, Zoey reveals how she develops images over time — layering visual information, altering compositions, and pushing the boundaries between representation and abstraction. She speaks to the rhythms of her creative practice, the importance of environment and experimentation, and the influences that continue to guide her artistic evolution. Listeners will hear about:

• How Zoey builds paintings through accumulation, revision, and playful visual problem-solving
• Her development as a representational painter navigating contemporary art spaces
• The relationship between observation, narrative, and ambiguity in her compositions
• The shifting balance between precision and looseness
• The role of education, mentorship, and critique in an artist’s growth
• What keeps her inspired and curious in the studio

Whether you are a painter, collector, art student, or enthusiast drawn to thoughtful visual storytelling, Zoey offers invaluable insights into her artistic philosophy, studio process, and the ongoing pursuit of meaningful work. This conversation invites you to look more closely, think more deeply, and appreciate how art is built — not just made. If you love hearing directly from the artists shaping today’s creative landscape, you won’t want to miss this inspiring episode.

Keywords:
Zoey Frank, painter, Colorado artist, representational art, contemporary painting, figurative painting, still life painting, fine art podcast, artist interview, art studio practice, art biography, artwork process, oil painting, modern figurative art, art storytelling, creative journey, emerging artists, art collectors, art education, visual art, contemporary artist interview

BIO
Zoey Frank is a Colorado-based painter who works one large multiple figure compositions and still lifes in oil. And a new mother. She received her MFA in painting from Laguna College of Art and Design, California after studying for four years with Juliette Aristides at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, Washington. Zoey has received three Elizabeth Greenshields grants, her work has been featured in publications such as Fine Art Connoisseur and High Fructose, and she has exhibited in galleries across the United States, England, and the Netherlands. Zoey was born in Boulder, CO in 1987, the only child of Ina Robbins, a psychotherapist and Douglas Frank, an acupuncturist. As a child, Zoey was drawn to arts and crafts. In school, she also enjoyed sports and briefly aspired to become a basketball player. But from the age of 13, she knew that art would be her life-calling and she found her way to art programs that would give her the foundation for her career. While she was studying she worked as a figure model for art courses. Whilst in her MFA program she was already selling her paintings so she was encouraged that once she graduated she could make a living with her art. For a while, Zoey struggled with health issues, which eventually served to confirm her life’s purpose. As her success has grown, so too have her canvases and she is currently working on an 18 feet high by 20 feet wide piece that she began two years ago. Zoey also offers online courses on a variety of subjects. She and her husband Peter and daughter Ida Joan live in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

Zoey's website: https://zoeyfrank.com/
Instagram: @zoeyfrank

Zoe’s Podcast Playlist:
Slate Culture Gabfest
Scriptnotes
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Some favorite artists:
Cecily Brown
Njideka Crosby
Lois Dodd
Susan Jane Walp
Susan Litchman
Catherine Kehoe
Jennifer Pochinski
Stephanie Pierce
Celeste Rapone

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
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A Hollowell Studios Production
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