Franziska Barczyk is a contemporary artist working across painting, illustration, and moving image. Her practice explores the body in motion, momentum, and chance shape human experience, often blurring the line between private and public states of being.

Drawing from dance, editorial culture, and visual storytelling, Barczyk creates bold, abstract figurative works that emphasize connection, tension, and resilience. Her paintings and moving image pieces function as interconnected fragments within a larger visual world, where gesture and rhythm become tools for examining societal structures and emotional states.

She has exhibited internationally and worked as an editorial illustrator for publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Globe and Mail, as well as collaborating with cultural institutions such as TIFF. Based in Toronto, her work continues to expand into public art, moving image, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Select Client List

Google, Apple, The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Boston Globe, New York Magazine, Herman Miller, Teen Vogue, NYLON

Press Release/Online Featured Illustrator

What Matters PRINT Magazine 2024
Departures Magazine with Emirates, October 2021
Yellow Pad Sesssions - IG LIVE, April 2020
Upstatement, March 2020
The Collective Living Feature July 2019
Communication Arts June 2018
Tiff, Toronto International Film festival 2017
CBC Arts May 2018
HUNGER TV, April 2018
AI-AP Design Arts Daily, December 2017
CBC Arts December 2017
Creators Corner January 2017
Toronto Guardian Nov 30 2016
Working Not Working Aug 8, 2016
Vita magazine May 12, 2016
Mutant Space March 15, 2016
100 $how Feb 2, 2012 Portland, Oregon
Blend Magazine Nov 2.2011
OTM web zine FALL 2011. ISSUE 9, Toronto Canada
The Fashion Press March 2011
Art Directors Club, NY New York September 2010

Exhibitions (Solo)

2025 ‘Which One Are You?’ ISZA Gallery, Toronto
2021 'Perspectives' Kornhaus Museum, Germany
2018 BLUE, Coldstream Fine Art Gallery, Toronto
2016 Bodies, Coldstream Fine Art Gallery, Toronto

Exhibitions (Group)

2026 DesignTO at Arterial, ‘Legacy and Impressions’
2025 Cry Baby Gallery, ‘DADS’ Toronto
2024 Gallery 1313, Sex Show, Toronto
2020 At Intervals 158 Sterling Road, Toronto
2020 Collision Gallery, Toronto
2020 Illustrators 62, Society of Illustrators, New York
2018 Illustrators 60, Society of Illustrators, NY
2017 29Rooms, Women's March, Refinery29, NY
2017 29Rooms, Women's March, Refinery29, LA
2016 Coaster Exhibition, La luz de Jesus Gallery, LA
2012 100 Euro Show, Wieden and Kennedy. Portland, Oregon. USA
2011 Smiling Anti-Matter, Steamwhistle gallery, Toronto
2011 100 Euro Show, W + K Amsterdam
2010 Cube Exhibition, Art Directors Club, New York
2010 Enemies, Steamwhistle Gallery, Toronto
2009 100 Euro Show Stuttgart, Germany
2008 Alter Ego show, Index G Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008 Show and Tell Gallery, Toronto
2008 Icon 5 the Illustration Conference, Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, U.S

Publications | Awards
2021 American Illustration 40 Book and online
2020 American Illustration 39 (online)
2020 Society of Illustrators 62
2019 IMAA International Motion Art Award (online)
2019 American Illustration 38 (online)
2018 Society of News Design 'Award of Excellence'
2018 Society of Illustrators 60
2018 IMAA international Motion Art Award (online)
2017 American Illustration 37 (online)