Victoria Simmons, painter. Image by artist. Stan Fronczek, furniture-maker. Image by artist.

KNOXVILLE – During the month of May, the Art Market Gallery of Knoxville is presenting an exhibit of recent works by two featured artists. Animal artist Victoria Simmons is displaying recent paintings with a focus on bird themes, and furniture-maker Stan Fronczek will show his carefully crafted furniture. Both are Knoxville residents.

Victoria Simmons’ award-winning animal paintings, juried into regional and national shows, are in private collections throughout the United States and abroad, among them commissioned works for actress Andie MacDowell. Displaying her work at the Tennessee Valley Hunt opening meet also has become a fall tradition. For the past three years, this lifelong birdwatcher and recipient of two artist grants has concentrated on painting birds.

“I have spent most of my life creating images from nature,” Simmons says. “After more than 50 years of creating art, the natural world continues to call out to me, and animals still speak to my soul.”

Stan Fronczek is a contemporary-furniture designer who creates his works using both domestic and exotic types of wood, and with painstaking attention to fine craftsmanship. Through the years the scope of his unique works has included cabinets, rockers, tables, benches, mirrors and fun accessories.

His primary inspiration is drawn from Mid-Century and Asian styles that share his vision as well as those prized elements of clean, crisp line. The success of a completed work by Fronczek then rests with his adhering to an imperative of the principles of design: “It’s extremely important that balance and proportion of materials make the finished piece of furniture speak for itself,” he explains.

Member owned and operated by more than 60 professional regional artists, the Art Market Gallery is located at 422 South Gay St., next to the Downtown Grill & Brewery, and a few doors away from Mast General Store. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday. The gallery is handicapped accessible.

Published May 5, 2013