On view at SJIMA | North Gallery | March 7 – June 2, 2025
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is proud to present Crush, a powerful solo exhibition by California-based artist Kenda Francis, on view now through June 2 in the North Gallery.
With Crush, Francis brings the raw beauty and heartbreaking reality of the natural world to canvas. Her mixed media acrylic paintings are layered with bold textures, stenciled imagery, drips, and graffiti-style markings. These dynamic elements—reminiscent of urban decay—create a striking contrast with the majestic wildlife portrayed at the center of each work. The result is a visual collision of nature and human interference, a commentary on the degradation of habitats and the increasing pressure on the world’s undomesticated species.
Each piece in Crush carries a visceral message: wildlife is under siege. And yet, Francis’s subjects—elephants, big cats, endangered birds, and lesser-known species—are not just victims; they are warriors, survivors, and symbols of the wild’s persistent spirit. Through her unique artistic voice, Francis both mourns and honors the animals we risk losing, inviting viewers to connect emotionally and urgently with their stories.
“In my work I stand up for all animals,” Francis writes. “Sharing their stories and their struggles, while celebrating their strengths, their resilience, their uniqueness and their incredible importance.”
Her vibrant canvases are not just visual spectacles—they are acts of advocacy.
About the Artist: Kenda Francis
Kenda Francis is an artist, educator, photographer, and lifelong advocate for animals and the natural world. Based in San Diego, she creates bold, layered paintings that shine a light on both the beauty and the vulnerability of wildlife across the globe.
Her creative process is deeply rooted in firsthand experience—traveling to wild places such as the Pantanal, the Amazon, Costa Rica, and Africa to observe and photograph the animals she paints. She holds a BA in painting, printmaking, and photography from SDSU, an MA in painting from CSU Chico, and a degree in zoology from the College of the Redwoods. Francis also teaches full-time in secondary education while exhibiting her artwork throughout Southern California and beyond.
Driven by a mission to give voice to creatures with no platform of their own, Francis hopes to inspire both awe and action through her art. Her distinctive style—merging street art influences with traditional painting—draws viewers in, but it’s the animals' stories that linger long after.
In addition to raising awareness, Kenda gives back:
10% of all sales from her paintings support
Learn more about Kenda Francis and her work:
Make a day of it at SJIMA and experience all three of our Spring 2025 exhibitions! Learn more about the full lineup here. The museum is open Friday through Monday, 11 AM - 5 PM.
SJIMA’s Spring 2025 exhibitions are made possible through the generous support of our in-kind sponsors: Printonyx, Harbor Rental, Browne's Home Center, and Ogle Painting.
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