Biography:

Born in Zahlé, Lebanon, Chawky Frenn lived his formative years in a country of beauty, mysticism and conflict. He witnessed six years of civil war whose devastating images and consequences would powerfully influence his life and work. He moved to the United States in 1981.

In 1985 Frenn received a BFA from Mass College of Art, Boston, MA, and in 1988 he completed his MFA from Tyler School of Art of Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. He spent his second year of graduate studies at Temple Abroad in Rome, Italy. He taught at Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA; Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA and Edinboro University of PA, Edinboro, PA. He is currently an Assistant Professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

Frenn exhibits extensively, nationally and internationally. He had shows in the US, France, Germany, Lebanon and Paraguay. In 2000-2002, Frenn's first traveling show ECCE HOMO was hosted by Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN; George Mason University in Fairfax, VA; the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts in New Castle, PA; the Housatonic Museum of Art in Bridgeport, CT; the Erie Art Museum in Erie, PA and St. Paul's School in Concord, NH. He participated in many museum shows; Arnot Art Museum's "Re-presenting Representation" in Elmira, NY is the most recent.

Frenn received numerous awards: Blanche E. Colman Award, Mellon Trust, Boston, MA, in 98; The Stacey Scholarship Award, The National Academy of Western Art, Oklahoma City, OK and The Sheldon Bergh Award USA, Basil H. Alkazzi Award, London, England, both in 93; Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation Grant, Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation, Boston, MA in 82, 83 and 84. He was a Finalist in the Teaching Excellence Award in his first year at George Mason in 00-01.

Beside positive reviews and critical acclaim by varied newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, NY ARTS, Art New England and the Boston Globe, a 72-page catalog documenting Frenn's work has been published to accompany the traveling show ECCE HOMO.

Frenn lives and works in Arlington, VA.

Education

1987 - 1988 Tyler School of Art-Temple Abroad. Rome, Italy. MFA, Painting Studied with Richard Raiselis

1986 - 1987 Tyler School of Art of Temple University. Philadelphia, PA. Studied with John Moore

Fall 1985 Pratt Institute. Brooklyn, NY

1982 - 1985 Massachusetts College of Art. Boston, MA. BFA, Painting Studied with George Nick and Paul Rahilly

Teaching

2006 - Present Associate Professor, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA

Fall 2000 - 2006 Assistant Professor, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA

Spring 2000 Visiting Assistant Professor, Montserrat College of Art. Beverly, MA

1998 - 1999 Assistant Professor, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Edinboro, PA

1997 - 1998 Visiting Assistant Professor, Montserrat College of Art. Beverly, MA

1995 - 1998 Visiting Assistant Professor, Bridgewater State College. Bridgewater, MA

1990 - 1998 Instructor, Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Cambridge, MA

1991 - 1995 Instructor, Brookline Adult and Community Education Program. Brookline, MA

1995 Instructor, Elderhostel Intensive. Horizons. Williamsburg, MA

Professional Experience

2007 Visiting Artist/Lecturer. New York Academy. New York, NY
Judge, Third Annual Festival. Port Warwick Art & Sculpture Festival. Newport News, VA

2006 Visiting Lecturer. The Nietzsche Circle. Mercy College. New York, NY
Judge, November Exhibition. The League of Reston Artists. Reston, VA
Visiting Lecturer. Zahle Public Library. Zahle, Lebanon
Visiting Lecturer. The Art Center, American University of Beirut. Beirut, Lebanon
Judge, 15th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. Greater Reston Art Center. Reston, VA
Judge, 74th Annual Cumberland Valley Artists Exhibition. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Hagerstown, MD

2005 Judge, The Arts at Beacon 2005. Montgomery College. Rockville, MD
Juror, Bethesda Painting Competition. Bethesda Art & Entertainment District. Bethesda, MD
Judge, Gosport Arts Festival. Portsmouth, VA
Speaker, Brown Bag Lunch. Washington Theological Union. Washington, DC

2004 Curator, Anonymous Returns. Washington Project for the Art/Corcoran. Washington, DC
Speaker. Global Affairs Program, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA
Judge, Fall 2002 Stockley Gardens Arts Festival. Hope House Foundation. Norfolk, VA.
Visiting Lecturer. Department of Otolaryngology, American University of Beirut . Beirut , Lebanon
Judge, 49th Boardwalk Art Show & Festival. Contemporary Art Center of VA.Virginia Beach , VA
Participated in a panel discussion "Portrait of the Artist" moderated by Lenny Campello, Director, Fraser Gallery . Other panelists: Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post Art Critic and Dr.Carolyn Carr, Chief Curator at the National Portrait Gallery . The Art League Gallery, Alexandria , VA

2003 Conducted a ten-days Drawing Marathon. The first at St. Paul 's School. Concord , NH
Participated in a three-weeks Supra Drawing Marathon. Conducted by the Dean of NYSS, Graham Nickson. New York Studio School , New York , NY
Curator. Annual Georgetown International Art Competition. Fraser Gallery . Washington , DC

2002 Visiting Artist/Lecturer, St. Paul's School. Concord, NH

2001 Visiting Lecturer, Erie Art Museum. Erie, PA
Visiting Lecturer, Housatonic Museum of Art. Bridgeport, CT
Visiting Lecturer, Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts. New Castle, PA
Visiting Lecturer, George Mason University.Fairfax, VA

Fall 1999 Research and travel for the upcoming traveling show "Ecce Homo"

1995 Visiting Artist/Lecturer, Salve Regina University. Newport, RI

1994 Visiting Artist/Lecturer, St. Paul's School. Concord, NH

1991 Visiting Artist/Lecturer, Bradford College. Bradford, MA

1989-1996 Guest Reviewer, Mass College of Art. Boston, MA

Solo Exhibitions

2007 Missa Pro Pace. Arlington Arts Center. Arlington, VA

2006 Art for Life’s Sake. The Art Center, American University of Beirut. Beirut, Lebanon
Human, Not Too Human. Fraser Gallery. Bethesda, MD

2005 What is Truth? Washington Theological Union. Washington, DC

2004 US and THEM. Fraser Gallery. Bethesda, MD

2003 - 2004 For Show or For Sure? Upper Jewett Exhibition Corridor, Dartmouth College. Hanover, NH

2002 Thanatos and Eros. Horizon Gallery. Santa Fe, NM

The Holy Cost. Fraser Gallery. Bethesda, MD

2000 - 2002 Ecce Homo. Traveling exhibition: Sarratt Gallery, Vanderbilt University. Nashville, TN; Johnson Center and Fine Arts Galleries, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA; The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts. New Castle, PA; Housatonic Museum of Art. Bridgeport

2000 "Thanatos and Eros" Passions Gallery. Provincetown, MA

1998 "Wandering" Voss Gallery. Düsseldorf, Germany

1997 "Sacra Conversazione" Olaf Clasen Gallery. Cologne, Germany
"Silence" Galerie Septentrion. Marcq-en-Baroeul, France

1996 "Tomb to Womb" Anderson Gallery, Bridgewater State College. Bridgewater, MA
"Sacra Conversazione" Bromfield Gallery. Boston, MA

1995 "Art for Life's Sake" Carnegie Arts Center. Covington, KY

1994 "Big. Works of Surprising Size and Impact" The Art Center in Hargate, St. Paul's School. Concord, NH

1993 "Shared Solitude" The Lowe Gallery. Atlanta, GA
"Reckless Peace" Alif Gallery. Washington, DC

1992 "A Living Trail" McKillop Gallery, Salve Regina University. Newport, RI

1991 "Active Meditation" Laura Knott Gallery, Bradford College. Bradford, MA
"Dolls' Heads" Goforth Rittenhouse Galleries. Philadelphia, PA

1988 "Your Tragedy is Mine" Temple Abroad Gallery. Rome, Italy
"Your Tragedy is Mine" Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore. Milan, Italy

1987 "The Quest" Tyler Gallery, Tyler School of Art. Philadelphia, PA

1985 "Raison d'Etre" Tower Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art. Boston, MA

Museum Exhibitions and International Art Fairs

2007 Arlington to Aachen: Bridging the Distance. Ludwig Forum fur Internationale Kunst. Aachen, Germany ARTDC WashingtonFirst Annual International Modern & Contemporary Art Fair. April 27 – 30.Washington Convention Center. Washington, DC

Exhibition 280. Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV

2006 Slow Painting: A Determined Renaissance. Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. Atlanta, GA

2005 73rd Annual Cumberland Valley Artists Exhibition. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Hagerstown, MD

2004 20th Contemporary Art Fair. MAC 2000. Espace Champerret.Paris, France

2002 The Affordable Art Fair. Gescheidle. New York, NY

2001-2002 Re-presenting Representation 5. Arnot Art Museum. Elmira, NY

1998 XXII Salon d’Automne. Sursock Museum.Beirut, Lebanon
16th Annual September Competition. Alexandria Museum of Art.Alexandria, LA
New Voices/New Visions. New The Alternative Museum. York, NY
16th Contemporary Art Fair. ArtBrussels. Brussels, Belgium

1997 XXI Salon d’Automne. Sursock Museum. Beirut, Lebanon

1995 XIX Salon d’Automne. Sursock Museum. Beirut, Lebanon
30th Annual Exhibition. The Fine Arts Institute of the San Bernardino County Museum. Redlands, CA

1994 Hoyt National Art Show. The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts.New Castle, PA
Staten Island Biennial. Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences.Staten Island, NY

1993 28th Annual Exhibition. The Fine Arts Institute of the San Bernardino County Museum. Redlands, CA
Winter International Competition. The Florida Museum of Hispanic and Latin American Art. Miami, FL

1992 ANA 21. The Holter Museum of Art. Helena, MT

1991 Tenth Annual September Competition. Alexandria Museum of Art. Alexandria, LA
Juried Exhibition. Attleboro Museum. Attleboro, MA

1989 Springfield Art League 70th Annual Exhibition. Springfield Museum of Fine Arts and George Walker Vincent Smith Art Museum. Springfield, MA

1987 Harrisburg Arts Festival. State Museum of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA
National April Salon. Springville Museum of Art. Springville, UT

1986 National April Salon. Springville Museum of Art. Springville, UT

Group Exhibitions

2007 Arlington to Aachen: Bridging the Distance. Arlington Arts Center. Arlington, VA

2006 Missa Latina. JKK Fine Arts. Gallery, Upper Montclair, NJ
Going Underground. Art @ Large. New York, NY

2005 New Erotix. Art @ Large. New York, NY

2004 Anonymous Returns. Washington Project for the Art/Corcoran. Washington, DC
Meditations on the Sacred. Washington Theological Union. Washington, DC
Seeing with the Heart’s and Mind’s Eye. Washington Theological Union. Washington, DC
Faculty Show 04. Mason Hall Gallery, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA
The Male Nude. Light Street Gallery. Baltimore, MD
Contemporary Realism. Fraser Gallery. Bethesda, MD
Contemporary Figurative Painting. Fraser Gallery. Bethesda, MD
100th Exhibition. Fraser Gallery. Bethesda, MD

2003 "Faculty Show 03" Mason Hall Gallery, George Mason University . Fairfax , VA
"Brave Destiny" Williamsburg Art and Historical Center. Brooklyn , NY
12 Annual National Exhibition, Art Institute and Gallery. Salisbury , MD
"Figurative Paintings" Fraser Gallery . Bethesda , MD

2002 "September 11" New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University . Boston , MA
"About Looking at Things" Gescheidle. Chicago , IL
Grand Opening Exhibition, Fraser Gallery . Bethesda , MD

2001 "Exposicion Binacional Paraguayo-Americano"The Paraguayan American Cultural Center. Asuncion, Paraguay
"Visual Frequencies 2001"Mason Hall Gallery,George Mason University. Fairfax, VA
"The Figure in Painting" Fraser Gallery. Washington, DC

2000 "Revealing the Nude-A Timeless Passion" Chase Gallery. Boston, MA

1999 Group Show by Gallery Artists, Olaf Clasen Gallery. Cologne, Germany
Group Show by Gallery Artists, Claire Oliver Fine Art. Philadelphia, PA

1998 Grand Opening Exhibition, Claire Oliver Fine Art. Philadelphia, PA
"Faculty Exhibit" Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University of PA. Edinboro, PA
"Figure and Fantasy" Chase Gallery. Boston, MA
Group Show by Gallery Artists, Art Service Gallery. Paris, France
"Art Faculty" Anderson Gallery, Bridgewater State College. Bridgewater, MA

1997 Group Show by Gallery Artists, Art Service Gallery. Paris, France
"Making a Still Life: Ten Variations" South Shore Art Center. Cohasset, MA
"The Escutcheon of Opus 71" Opus 71 Galleries. Hollis, NH

1996 Group Show by Gallery Artists, Galerie Septentrion. Marcq-en-Baroeul, France
"Tension, Ideal and Expectation. The 50's" Opus 71 Galleries. Hollis, NH
"Evil" Opus 71 Galleries. Hollis, NH
"The Lyrical, the Expressionist and the Poetic" Denise Bibro Fine Art. New York, NY

1995 National Juried Competition, Gallery 84. New York, NY
"The Soiree Group" Concord Art Association. Concord, MA
"2025 A.D." Opus 71 Galleries. Hollis, NH
"Frenn, Lehrer, Paine" Pepper Gallery. Boston, MA
"The World According to Art" Concord Art Association. Concord, MA
"A Perfect World" Opus 71 Galleries. Hollis, NH

1994 "North American Works" Matrix Gallery. Sacramento, CA
"Fantastically Real" The Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts. Boston, MA

1993 "An American Renaissance" The Lowe Gallery. Atlanta, GA
"Breaking the Mold" Koppelman Gallery, Tufts University. Medford, MA
New England Juried Exhibition, South Shore Art Center. Cohasset, MA
"Seeing the Object: A Tribute to George Nick" Alumni Gallery, Mass College of Art. Boston, MA

1992 Group Show by Gallery Artists, The Lowe Gallery. Santa Monica, CA
National Juried Show '92, Marcella Geltman Gallery, Arts Center of Northern New Jersey. New Milford, NJ

1991 Invitational Show, Bromfield Gallery. Boston, MA
Group Show by Gallery Artists, Goforth Rittenhouse Galleries. Philadelphia, PA
"Whose Choice?" Arts Council of San Mateo County. Belmont, CA

1990 "ART/AIDS" Laura Knott Gallery, Bradford College. Bradford, MA

1989 "Above, Beyond and Within: The South End" Cyclorama, Boston
Center for the Arts. Boston, MA
"Baart, Frenn, Grad: New Paintings; Ott: Recent Sculpture" Gallery NAGA. Boston, MA

1988 "MFA Show" Temple Abroad Gallery. Rome, Italy

1986 Participated in five shows at Salmagundi Club Gallery. New York, NY

Grants and Awards

2006 Teaching Excellence Award, Finalist. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA

2003 Summer Research Grant. George Mason University . Fairfax , VA

2002 Teaching Excellence Award, Finalist. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA

1998 Blanche E. Colman Award, Mellon Trust. Boston, MA

1996 Award for Excellence, Hollis Arts Society. Hollis, NH

1995 First Prize, Concord Art Association. Concord, MA
Award for Excellence, Hollis Arts Society. Hollis, NH

1994 "Just Say Roe" Album cover for Sire Records Company. New York, NY

1993 The Stacey Scholarship Award, The National Academy of Western Art. Oklahoma City, OK
The Sheldon Bergh Award USA, Basil H. Alkazzi Award. London, England

1990 Massachusetts Artist Fellowship in Painting, Semi-finalist. Boston, MA

1982 - 1984 Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation Grant, Gibran Khalil Gibran Foundation. Boston, MA

Collections

The Springfield Museum of Art. Springfield, OH

Housatonic Museum of Art. Bridgeport , CT

Mr. George Berkowitz, Owner, Legal Seafood. Boston, MA

Mr. Howard Klein, Vice President, Warner Brothers Records. Burbank, CA

Mr. Basil H. Alkazzi, President, Basil H. Alkazzi Award. London, England

Mr. Luis A. Ferre, President, Museo De Arte De Ponce. San Juan, PR

Mr. George Nick, American Realist Painter. Concord, MA

Publications

Al-Kafila “The Doll” Jan/Feb 2007. Zahran, Saudi Arabia

Exhibition 280 Catalog of exhibition. Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV. 2007

Slow Painting:
A Determined Renaissance.
Catalog of the exhibition. Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. Atlanta, GA. 2006

Venganza Injusta Carlos Erazo

Art for Life’s Sake Hard cover, 186-page book, with essays by Mark Daniel Cohen, Raphaël Karim Hamoudi, Donald Kuspit, Cesar Nammour, John D. O’Hern, and Howard L. Resnikoff. Published by Fine Arts Consulting and Publishing s.a.r.l. Beirut, Lebanon. 2006

2006 Artist Directory Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran.2006

American Art Collector - South Alcove Books. 2005. Berkeley, CA

MAC 2000 Catalog of the 20th Contemporary Art Fair. Espace Champerret, Paris, France. 2004

Devenir un Dieu Patrick Bruneteaux. Edition Publibook Université. Book cover, 2004. Paris, France

Terrain 42 Homme/Femme Patrick Bruneteaux. "Obstacle aux recherches sur les camps de la mort". Maison des sciences de l'homme / Ministère de la Culture et la Communication, 2004. Paris, France

Amam al-Lawha Cesar Nammour. Dar al Founoun al-Jamila, 2004. Beyrout, Lebanon

New American Paintings Catalog of the Ninth Open Studios Mid-Atlantic Competition, 2004. Boston, MA

2004 Artist Directory Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran

2003 Artist Directory Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran

RePresenting Representation 5 Catalog of the 2001-02 Biennial Exhibition. Arnot Art Museum

Male Nude Now David Leddick. Universe Publishing, a division of Rizzoli

Ecce Homo Catalog of the traveling show with essays by Joel Levy Logiudice, Kirby Malone, Kimberly Koller-Jones, Robbin Zella, John D. O'Hern, Dorothy Joiner, Patrick Bruneteaux

New American Paintings Catalog of the 1999 New England Open Studios Competition