Magda Francot (born in Antwerp on 30 July, 1942) is married to Architect Hug Francot, works in Antwerp, Belgium and lives in Wezemaal, Belgium (Close to Leuven). She primarily works in oils on canvas and panel and her work finds its roots in the great Flemish tradition. Besides creating her portraiture and symbolic work, Magda also has her own art school where she teaches enthusiasts the art of drawing and painting, also in traditional techniques like tempera. The knowledge of this latter technique also enables her to restore old paintings to their former glory.

Magda and her husband Hug own a cottage in the French
Ardeche, and above watercolour by Magda depicts this landscape.

Education:

1957-'60 Institute for Decorative Arts in Antwerp.
1960-'61 Academy of Fine Arts in Dendermonde, department Monumental Painting.
1960-'62 Institute of Fine Arts in Antwerp, department decoration.
1962-'64 Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, department oil painting, with Prof. Gustaaf De Bruyne. Drawing with Prof. Marcel Mutsaerts.

Activities:

1964-'68 Textile applications and wall hangings.
1968-'70 Series of assemblages commissioned by "Borg Fabrics".
1970-'71 Reliefs in textile and plaster.
1971-'72 Single figures in painted plaster.
1973-'82 Drawings, lithographs, en oil paintings.
1982-'90 Trompe L'oeil wall paintings, oil paintings with tempera base, canvas glued on panel.
1990-'99 Oil paintings, colour pencil drawings, pastel drawings.

Trompe L'oeil

Exhibitions:

1968
Oostende and Ronquieres "Art in the Benelux countries"
Goes "Creative Art skills in the Province of Antwerp"

1972
Eindhoven - Bijenkorf

1974
Mons, Federation du tourisme de la Provence du Hainaut

1976
Gallery "De Drie Dennen" -  Herentals

1980
Graphics exhibitions "Sports in Arts" Frans Masereelcentrum.
"Schelde and Harbour" Galerie "De Witte Arend" in Antwerp. 

1981
Meise - Audiovisual center

1982
Gallery SMAG in Vremde (Boechout)
Gallery VTB in Antwerp
Artscenter "De Gouden Pluim" in Gent
Huis ter Beurse in Bruges

1983
Museum A. Blomme in Roeselare
Gallery "Lazarus" in Rumst
Gallery Gemeentekrediet in Antwerp
1986 Cultural Circle in Wezemaal
1987 Gallery "AWW" in Antwerp

1990
Art in the World of Justice - The Justice Building in Antwerp
"Salon 90" Gallery "De Lelie" in Antwerp

1993
Gallery "De Griffioen" in Sint-Pauwels
Huis van Nispen

1995
Gallery "De Griffioen" in Sint Pauwels
Gallery "De Lelie" in Antwerp
Gallery "Huyse Molensloot" in Antwerp
Gallery "Axpoele" in Ruiselede

1996
Zaventem "Gemeentehuis"

1997
Gallery "Huyse Molensloot" in Antwerp
"Open Ateliers", Artiestengang in Antwerp
Gallery "Iris" in Werchter
Gallery "De Pekhoeve" in Ulvenhout, NL

1998
"Isard International Art School" in Antwerp
 "Biennale" in Saint Leonard de Noblat, France
"Open Ateliers Noord" in Antwerp

1999
Gallery "Lijn 3" in The Hague, NL
Gallery "Campo & Campo" in Antwerp
St.Leonard de Noblat - Limoges - France
Carquefou - Brittany - France
Gallery Palumbus - Antwerp - Belgium
Gallery Axpoele - Ruiselede (Bruges) Belgium

2000
Expo Vlaamse Fantastische Kunst - Huis Helllemans - Edegem Belgium

2001
Museum Mohlmann - onafhankelijke realisten tentoonstelling
Venhuizen, the Netherlands

2002
Museum Mohlmann - onafhankelijke realisten tentoonstelling
Venhuizen, the Netherlands
Galerie De Heren van Voorburg - Voorburg (The Hague) the Netherlands

2003
Kunstevent Antwerp, Belgium
Museum Mohlmann - onafhankelijke realisten tentoonstelling
Venhuizen, the Netherlands

2004
"Real Fruit" nine painters with realistic fruit art - Fruitteeltmuseum
Kapelle, the Netherlands
Open Studios Antwerp Belgium

2005
Wine in Arts - Castle Le Paige - Herentals, Belgium

Awards:

1980 Laureat "Grand Prize Alfons Blomme" for the art of oil painting.
        Honourable mention "Schelde en Haven"
1981 Honourable mention "Jules van Campenhout Prize"
1982 Selected for 4th Prize for Painting in Boechout
        Selected C.V.K.C Jozelf Storme Prize for Painting
1983 Selected for "Grand Prize Alfons Blomme"
        Selected for "Lazarus Prize"
        First Prize "Prize E. van Mieghem"
1995 First Prize Local Selection "Choose for Art"

Publications:

A number of magazines and newspapers.
"Painting and Sculpture after 1945" by Dr. H. Dierckx
Book "5 Jaar De Lelie", 1992 by Danny Renders

Work in private collections:

Belgium: Antwerp, St. Niklaas, Kapellen, Keerbergen, Halle, Brussels, Vremde.
France: Bandol.
Germany: Munich.
U.S.A.: New York, Delavan (Wisconsin).

Magda:

"Because of the confusion in art, the feelings of being deceived by modern art, the work you will view here has grown in a reverse evolution for me.

It is more than necessary to follow one's own lines, and form a link in the chain of a great artistic tradition based on traditional values and techniques, authenticity and motivation.

I have decided to give my work an extra dimension of illusion and call it "Illusionary Realism", which means a reality painted from imagination.

I thank all who view and like my work and express an opinion .
You help me continue on this difficult road..."

Magda Francot