Francisco Sanabria was born in Bucaramanga, Columbia, South America. His early years were spent deep in the jungle with his father and brother. Childhood impressions from this time still burn strongly inside him, and their sparks escape onto his canvases. In the jungle, Sanabria learned to love beauty and nature and respect for the earth.
Sanabria is mainly self-taught; yet, like all artists who have studied the great works, masters of the Impressionist school have influenced him: Rosseau, Gaugin and Van Gogh. He admired Van Gogh in particular for his bold brushstrokes and bright colors. Sanabria became an artist because art gives him the avenue to express himself, and allows him to be creative. Through art he believes he touches people’s hearts.
Says the artist, "Intuition tells me I am on this earth to create art. As I work, all I need do is remain open to the vision from within." Sanabria’s work has been shown in numerous group and solo exhibitions, including the traveling exhibition "Expression Hispanic"; the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, CA; Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, NM; "Hispanic Invitation Show" partners gallery in Bethesda, MD; and the Center for Fine Arts in Miami, FL.
Awards for his art include:
First place painting in the Greensboro, NC Art Build
First place painting in the Danville, NC Art Fair
His works appear in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa fe.
Actor Dan Castellanata, David Ayer from Wilderness Skiing of America and W.E. Chilton III from the Charleston Gazette.