Francesca Capone is a materials designer, visual artist, writer, and educator.  Her work is primarily concerned with the creation of materials and a poetic consideration of their meaning. She is interested in how tactile forms simultaneously serve as functional surfaces for daily life and as a mode of communication or symbol within the cultural paradigm. 

Her interdisciplinary practice takes the shape of visual art exhibitions, readings/performances, and the book form. Her books Woven Places (Some Other Books, 2018), Text means Tissue (2017), and Weaving Language (information as material 2018, Self Published 2015) focus on textile poetics. They are in the library collections at the MoMA Library and the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has exhibited at Whitechapel Gallery in London, LUMA/Westbau in Switzerland, Textile Arts Center in NYC, and 99¢ Plus Gallery in Brooklyn. She has been an artist in residence at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation and Andrea Zittel's A-Z West. Her academic work includes lectures and workshops at Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Reed College, University of Washington, and Alberta College of Art and Design, among others. 

Represented by Nationale, Portland, US.

b. 1987, New York City

EDUCATION

2015 MFA Interdisciplinary Literary Arts, Brown University
2009 BFA Textiles, Rhode Island School of Design

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland, OR
The Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
The Museum of Modern Art Library, New York, NY
Brown Arts Initiative Permanent Collection, Brown University, Providence, RI
The Harris Collection, John Hay Library, Providence, RI 
Rhode Island School of Design Private Collection, Providence, RI
Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection, SAIC, Chicago, IL
Microsoft Art Collection, Redmond, WA

RESIDENCIES & HONORS

2024 A-Z West Artist Residency, HDTS, Joshua Tree, CA (forthcoming March 2024)
2023 Regional Arts & Culture Council Arts3C Grant, Portland, OR
2021 Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant, Portland, OR
2018 Shandy Hall Residency at the Laurence Sterne Trust, Yorkshire, UK
2017 A-Z West Weaving Symposium & Residency, Joshua Tree, CA
2016 A-Z West Weaving Residency, Joshua Tree, CA
2015 Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, New York, NY
         The Frances Mason Harris ’26 Prize, Brown University, RI
         The Jennings Hotel Artist in Residence, Joseph, OR
         Arts Initiative Grant, Creative Arts Council, Brown University, RI
2014 Josef and Anni Albers Foundation Resident Artist, Bethany, CT
         Creative Arts Council Grant, Brown University, RI
2013 Creative Arts Council Grant, Brown University, RI
2012 Thomas M. Chappell Scholarship in Creative Writing, Visual Poetry Residency with Jen Bervin, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 Material Memory, Nationale, Portland, OR
2021 Light Journal, headlines, OEI, Stockholm, Sweden
2020 Light Journal, Nationale, Portland, OR
2018 Think of Seashells, Nationale, Portland, OR
2017 Text means Tissue, Nationale, Portland, OR
2015 Writing in Threads, 99c Plus Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2015 Writing in Threads, Brown Arts Institute, Brown University, Providence, RI
2014 Oblique Archive, Peninsula Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
2014 Refraction, Mural Installation, Brown Arts Institute, Brown University, Providence, RI
2013 Drawings in Wood and Cotton, collaboration with Elise McMahon, Textile Arts Center, New York, NY
2012 Weaving Language, End of Century, New York, NY

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022 MdW Art Fair, The Ekru Project, Kansas City, MO
2021 Equilibrium, The Ekru Project, Kansas City, MO
           Optimistic Decay, Entrance, New York, NY
2020 RE: ASSEMBLY, Nationale, Portland, OR
2019 Assembly, Nationale, Portland, OR. 
         The Flourish of Liberty, Laurence Sterne Trust, Coxwold, UK
2018 Oyster, Galleri Jacob Bjørn, Aarhus, DE
         OEI #79, EDIT/PUBLISH/ DISTRIBUTE, Edited Jonas (J) Magnusson and Cecilia Grönberg, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
2017 Greetings From, The Art Barge, Curated by Simran Johnston, Amagansett, NY
         Tie Up, Draw Down, Center of Craft, Creativity & Design, Co-curated by Natalie Campbell and Carissa Carman, Asheville, NC
2016 Standard Incomparable, Organized by Helen Mirra, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA
         Double to Erase, SPRING/BREAK Art Fair, Curated by Michael Valinsky and Gaberielle Jensen
2015 TBA at S1, Collaboration with Laura Warman and Kristen Mueller, Portland, OR
          The New Concrete, Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
          Aeromoto + Wendy's Subway Reading Room, NADA NY
          Maximum Sideline: Postscript, Proxy, Providence, RI
          The Pain Quitodian, HQHQ Project Space, Portland, OR
2014 Chillzone, 99¢ Plus Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
          Display Copy, Petrella's Imports, NADA, New York, NY
         Visual Werx, London Poetry Festival, curated by Frances Kruk, Birkbeck College, London, UK 
         89plus “Poetry will be made by all!”, LUMA/Westbau, co-curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Simon Castets and Kenneth. Goldsmith, Zürich, Switzerland
         Reading Room, Gelman Gallery, RISD Museum, Providence, RI
        The Last Brucennial, organized by Vito Schnabel and the Bruce High Quality Foundation, New York, NY 
         Correspondance, curated by Publication Studio & Lisa Hayes Williams, Catskill, NY
         Mandala: Locus of Thought, Tibet House, New York, NY
2013 Petrella's Imports : Internet Protocol, New York, NY. Under the Influence, Gelman Gallery, RISD Museum, Providence, RI
          Complexity, AS220, GRIN Gallery, Granoff Gallery, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI
2012 Brucennial, organized by Vito Schnabel and the Bruce High Quality Foundation, New York
2009 Geography of Imagination, Adam House, curated by Phong Bui, New York

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2016 Local Tide by Parallelograms, Curated by Francesca Capone, S1 Portland, Oregon
2015 From Line to Constellation, Curated by Francesca Capone, The Cohen Gallery, Granoff Center, Brown University, Providence, RI
            Interrupt III, Conference co-curated with John Cayley, Brown University, Providence RI
2014 Readings from the Oblique Archive, Co-curated with Rachel Valinsky, Peninsula Art Space, Brooklyn, NY

SELECTED PRESS

2022 The World Has Too Many T-Shirts — These Artists Want to Help You Upcycle Them, Vogue, by Sarah Spellings
2020 Book Review: Weaving Language, Books on Books, by Robert Bolick
2020 Interview with Warp & Weft Magazine, with Rachel Snack
2018  Francesca Capone: Think of Seashells at Nationale, 60 Inch Center, Review by Lindsey Costello
            Francesca Capone's Night Fog, Capsule Review by Luiza Lukova, Nationale
2017 This Portland Gallery Has Shown Only Female Artists Since The Beginning of 2017, Sight Unseen
            Interview with Gabi Lewton Leopold, Nationale
           10 Portland art exhibits that stand out: Winter arts guide, Oregon Live
2016 Poetic Textiles Tell a History Woven by Women, Creators Project, Vice Media, Review by Andrew Salomone
           Francesca Capone: Text(ure) Refracting Language, Review by Jennifer S. Cheng
           Local Tide, Thru Magazine, Review by Kathleen Dolan
2015 Michigan Quarterly Review, Interview with Elizabeth Shmuhl
           Textile Arts Center Blog, Writing in Threads, by Etta Sandry
2014 The Poetry Project Newsletter Oct/Nov, Interview with Rosmarie Waldrop and Ted Dodson
            The Brooklyn Rail, Francesca Capone Oblique Archive, by Charles Schultz
            The Wild Magazine, Readings from The Oblique Archive, by Michael Valinsky
            Poetry Foundation Harriet Blog, Intricate Threads of Francesca Capone
            LVL 3 Media, Artist of the Week
           Sight Unseen, Eye Candy: Feature, by Bree Apperly
2013 O Globo, Brasil, Palavra Consturada, by Alice Sant'Anna
            Pitch Zine Feature, Australia, New York Issue, Interview with Taylor Mitchell
2012 The New York Times, Running From The City, by Malu Byrne
           New York Magazine, Best Bets

PUBLICATIONS

2021 Art Maze Magazine Issue 20, Guest curated by Zoe Fisher, London, UK
          The Book: 101 Definitions, Edited by Amaranth Borsuk, Anteism Books, Montreal, CA
          Salones de belleza / The Beauty Salons, Edited by Kit Schluter & Tatiana Lipkes, Gato Negro Editions, CDMX
2020 Light Journal, Designed by Charlotte Taillet, Published with Support from Nationale
            OEI #86–87: publiceringspraktiker, publiceringspoetiker / publishing practices, publishing poetics, ed: Jonas (J) Magnusson & Cecilia Grönberg 
2018 Weaving Language II: Language is Image, Paper, Code, & Cloth, information as material
           Woven Places, Some Other Books
           OEI #71–72 : Utanför-det-absoluta-stadssystemet-aktiviteter; publiceringspraktiker; Stephen Willats, & andra saker (624 sidor), Jonas (J) Magnusson och Cecilia Grönberg
           Essential Knowledge: The Book, Amaranth Borsuk, MIT Press
2017 Text means Tissue, Perfect Bound, Edition of 200, Available via Printed Matter
           Weaving Language III: Writing in Threads, Edition of 100, Center of Craft
2016 Translation: Weaving + Text, Gramma Poetry
           Weaving Through Agnes Martin, SF MoMA Open Space
            Interview with Alexa Karolinski, Tunica Magazine Issue 5
           Poems from Manuscript Fragment, Big Big Wednesday
           Poems from Manuscript Fragment, Novembre Magazine
           Poems from Manuscript Fragment, Stonecutter Issue 5
           Poems from Manuscript Fragment, OEI #71–72 : Utanför-det-absoluta-stadssystemet-aktiviteter
           Manuscript Fragment, Edition of 8
2015 Interview with Field Experiments, Tunica Magazine Issue 4
           United Projects Newsletter, October 2015 Issue
           The New Concrete: Visual Poetry in the 21st Century, Edited by Chris McCabe and Victoria Bean
           Primary Source, Gauss PDF Editions
           Pez Espiral N°3, Edited by Carlos Soto Román
           Scroll-i-n-g, Library of the Printed Web 3, Edited by Paul Soullelis
           Weaving Language Expanded Edition, Edition of 5
           Writing-in-Threads, Newspaper, Edition of 150, Available via Printed Matter
2014 I honor the huge blue, Gauss PDF
           Deciphering the Language of Fabric, Ten Souces, Poor Claudia
           Knit Wit Magazine, Issue One
           Tammy Journal, Issue Four
           Orte Magazine, Switzerland
            Imperial Matters, Edited by Sophia Le Fraga
           Textile Art Center Blog
2013 The Columbia Review
           Perhaps Blasphemous, Petrella's Imports
2012 Weaving Language (self-published edition of 100 released at Weaving Language Exhibition)
2011 Picture Plane (self-published edition of 100 released at Brucennial Exhibition)

PERFORMANCES & READINGS

2021 Light Journal: A Conversation with Francesca Capone and Charlotte Taillet, Printed Matter, NY, NY
2019 Reading with Elaine Kahn and Kristin George Bagdanov at Poetic Research Bureau, LA, CA
Readings from Small at the Ace Hotel Lobby, AWP Offsite Reading, Portland, OR
2018 Leeds Arts Reseach Center INSIDE/ OUT Lecture Series with Carolyn Thompson, organized by Simon Morris. Watch the lecture.
          Language Weavers: Francesca Capone, Martha Tuttle, Sarah Zapata, & Jill Magi, Bard Graduate Center, NY, NY
           Reading at Aeromoto Library, translated by Francisco Fenton, Organized by Kit Schluter, Mexico City, MX
           NYABF Launch Woven Places & Weaving Language II, Artbook, MoMA PS1, NY, NY
           Portland Launch Woven Places & Weaving Language II, Nationale, Portland, OR
2017 Text means Tissue Book Launch, Printed Matter, New York, NY
           Text means Tissue Book Launch, Nationale, Portland, OR
2016 O'clock Press Release Party, Desiree C. Bailey with Capone, Helal, & McClure, Wendy's Subway, NY, NY
2015 Ladies Night, Group reading with Laura Warman, Natalia Panzer, Colleen Louise Barry, Portland, OR
           Pure Surface, Curated by Stacey Tran and Danielle Ross, Portland, OR
           Aeromoto and Wendy's Subway Present A+WS, Reading from Weaving Language, NADA NY
           Poetry Project Reading with Miriam Aitkin, Curated by The Poetry Project, Introduction by Judah Rubin, New York, NY
           Reading at BHQFU, with Deanna Havas, Corina Copp, and Charity Coleman, Organized by Sophia Le Fraga, New York, NY
           Performance at WordHack IX, Organized by Todd Anderson, Babycastles Gallery, New York, NY
           Reading at Book Zoo, with Kit Schluter and Jean Day, Organized by Tom Comitta, Oakland, CA
2014 Reading: Anthology 4, Brown University, Providence, RI
           Reading: Bleibe, Reste, Stay: The Final PWBMA! Zürich Skype Transmissions, Zürich, Switzerland
2013 Reading: Molasses Books, curated by Publication Studio Hudson, Brooklyn, NY
           Reading: McNally Jackson with Pura Lopez-Colome, Selections from Weaving Language, New York, NY
           Performance: Outdoor Frame Weaving with The Greenhorns, Ideas City Festival at the New Museum, New York, NY
           Lecture: Black Mountain College - Education of the Whole Person, Brooklyn, NY, Up Front Night Lecture Series

TEACHING

Boston University, Boston, MA
2022 Multiple Formats Art Book Fair, Tools, Research, & Pedagogy, hosted by Christopher Sleboda
Portland State Univeristy, Portland, OR
2021 Visiting Lecturer: Weaving Language with the Words & Thread workshop
Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
2020 Visiting Critic: Senior Thesis Materiality Final Critique, with Mariana Vidal Escabi
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
2020 Visiting Critic: Repair, Furniture Design Department, with Meg Callahan
2020 Visiting Critic: Contemporary Poetry with Mairéad Byrne
2015 Visiting Artist Project: Weaving Language in Literary Arts and Studies, Poetry I with Mairéad Byrne
2015 Guest Critic: Literary Arts and Studies, Digital Poetics with Mairéad Byrne
2014 Visiting Artist Lecture: Literary Arts and Studies, Advanced Poetry with Mairéad Byrne
2013 Visiting Artist Lecture: Digital Media Department, Bodies in Motion with Nell Breyer and Daniel Paluska
Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
2020 Visiting Artist Lecture: Studio Seminar on Contemporary Art Theory and Practice, with Brian House
Reed College, Portland, OR
2020, 2016 Visiting Artist Lecture: Creative Writing Course with Jae Choi
University of Washington Bothell, Seattle, WA
2019 Text in Textiles Panel, &Now Festival of Innovative Writing
2016 Weaving Language Workshop in Amaranth Borsuk's MFA Writing Course
Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
2018 Visiting Artist Lecture: Inside OUT Lecture Series with Simon Morris
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
2017 Visiting Artist Lecture: Body Politics with Alejandra Salinas
Oregon College of Arts & Crafts, Portland, OR
2017 Visiting Artist Lecture: Weaving Course with Sarah Wertzberger
Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, CA
2016 Keynote Lecture, Where Next? Conference on Interdisciplinary Art Practices
Brown University, Providence, RI
2015 Course: Visual Poetry, Writing as a Visual Practice
2014 Course: Poetry I Workshop
2014 Visiting Artist Lecture: Literary Arts Department, Writing: Material Differences with John Cayley
Providence College, Providence, RI
2015 Visiting Artist Lecture, Painting Department, with Heather McPherson
Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig, DE
2014 Visiting Artist Lecture: Initiative Wort Und Bild, Museum of Contemporary Art Leipzig, Germany
Textile Arts Center, New York, NY
2010-2012 Upholstery and Weaving Courses

COMMERCIAL WORK

2020 - Present Nike, Materials Design Director, Portland, OR
2018 - 2020 Nike, Materials Design Manager, Portland, OR
2015 - 2018 Nike, Materials Designer, Portland, OR
2012 - 2013 Marc by Marc Jacobs, Scarf Designer, New York, NY
2011 - 2012 ThreeASFOUR, Freelance Textile Designer, New York, NY
2010 - 2012 Coach, Print & Pattern Designer, New York, NY
2009 Carolina Herrera, Design Intern, New York, NY

Using Format