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Featured Solo Exhibition
FRANK D. COLE
The House Inside
March 12 - April 25, 2026
Artists' Reception
concurrent with reception for Kristie Hansen: Alternation Saturday, March 14th, 1-4 pm Artist's Talk Saturday, April 18th, 2 pm Frank Cole will discuss his work in a casual walk-through of his paintings on view |
Frank Cole, Pond House (Temple and Flame), 108 x 72, acrylic on canvas
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Working from his West Oakland studio, Frank Cole paints from a distance, both geographic and temporal. His large-scale works emerge from reflections on his childhood in Mississippi, with landscape, weather, and architecture forming an enduring visual vocabulary. In this work, the landscape becomes less a fixed geography than a felt condition, a stand-in for memory and connection, suspended between clarity and dream.
Framed by porches, window casings, and thresholds, Cole’s paintings position the viewer in an interior space, looking outward. Beams, panes, and floorboards divide and measure the picture plane acting as armatures for recollection, holding in place fleeting impressions of light on water, wind through tall grass, or rain dissolving a stand of trees. The result is both architectural and narrative, emerging as quiet meditations on place and time, imbued with reverie and longing.
The paintings carry a subtle tension between shelter and exposure, presence and absence. No figures occupy these interiors; instead, the viewer becomes the inhabitant. The threshold functions as a metaphor for memory–a point where the past remains visible yet inaccessible.
Accompanying the larger canvases, small preparatory studies reveal the evolution of each composition. In these pieces, Cole tests structure, color temperature, and atmosphere. The studies function as concentrated meditations—intimate works where gesture and light are first explored before expanding into the larger paintings.
While rooted in a specific place, these recollections resonate beyond their origin, becoming a point of departure for a broader exploration of early embodied experience - how light filled a certain room, the rhythm of rain on a roof, the view framed by a familiar window. Through carefully constructed interiors and expansive vistas, Frank Cole transforms personal memory into a contemplative space others can inhabit.
Framed by porches, window casings, and thresholds, Cole’s paintings position the viewer in an interior space, looking outward. Beams, panes, and floorboards divide and measure the picture plane acting as armatures for recollection, holding in place fleeting impressions of light on water, wind through tall grass, or rain dissolving a stand of trees. The result is both architectural and narrative, emerging as quiet meditations on place and time, imbued with reverie and longing.
The paintings carry a subtle tension between shelter and exposure, presence and absence. No figures occupy these interiors; instead, the viewer becomes the inhabitant. The threshold functions as a metaphor for memory–a point where the past remains visible yet inaccessible.
Accompanying the larger canvases, small preparatory studies reveal the evolution of each composition. In these pieces, Cole tests structure, color temperature, and atmosphere. The studies function as concentrated meditations—intimate works where gesture and light are first explored before expanding into the larger paintings.
While rooted in a specific place, these recollections resonate beyond their origin, becoming a point of departure for a broader exploration of early embodied experience - how light filled a certain room, the rhythm of rain on a roof, the view framed by a familiar window. Through carefully constructed interiors and expansive vistas, Frank Cole transforms personal memory into a contemplative space others can inhabit.
More About Frank D. Cole
Frank Cole is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco. He creates narrative paintings and installations that reflect on architecture, collective memory, and human behavior. His recent body of work is based upon his family’s former home in southern Mississippi. Cole lives and works in Emeryville, CA.
EDUCATION
M.F.A.
University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, California
B.F.A.
California College of Arts and Crafts; Oakland, California
EXHIBITIONS
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
A Different Past, Transmission Gallery, Oakland, California
2018
Inside and Out (On This Exact Spot), Roll Up Project, Oakland, California
2013
Right In The Eye, Bishop Collection UCSF (permanent installation) San Francisco, California
2010
Talking Pictures, a 15 year survey of work from 1995-2010, North First ARTSpace, San Jose CA
1996
Right In The Eye, Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, California
1995
New Drawings, University Art Gallery, University of California, Riverside
1988
Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco, California
1986
Painted Constructions, Quint Gallery, San Diego, California
1985
On the Home Front, Installation Gallery, San Diego, California
1984
Burning in Hell, Sushi Gallery, San Diego, California
All Stood Still, Old Miramar Road, La Jolla, California
1982
Mud and Ice, Mandeville Annex Gallery, La Jolla, California
1980
The Serpent, 80 Langton Street Gallery, San Francisco, California
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
39th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
Pint Size 3: Small Scale Artworks, Transmission Gallery, Oakland, California
2024
38th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2023
37th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2022
Dennis Leon and the Art of Instruction, Oliver Art Center, California College of the Arts, Oakland, California
2021
35th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2020
34th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, online viewing room
2017
Carry On, Thacher Gallery, San Francisco, California
Emeryville Arts Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2013
Scouting Oakland, The Compound Gallery, Oakland, California
2008
Between the Lines, Thacher Gallery, San Francisco, California
2005
Eddie Rhodes Gallery, Contra Costa College
2004
Emeryville Arts Annual, Emeryville, California
2003
ORANGE, The Hey Gallery, Oakland, California
Emeryville Arts Annual, Emeryville, California
The Garden of Eden, Turn of the Century Fine Arts, Berkeley, California
First, USF Arts Faculty Exhibition, San Francisco, California
2002
Faculty Show, Eddie Rhodes Gallery, Contra Costa College
Fresh, Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley, California
2001
Add/Drop, Oliver Art Center, California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, California
1999
Re:Drawing, Southern Exposure, San Francisco CA. Curated by Anne Ayers
1995
Equinox, Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, California
1994
Diderot And The Last Lumiare, Site, Los Angeles, California and Southern Exposure San Francisco, California. Curated by Erika Suderburg
New Faculty, Eddie Rhodes Gallery, Contra Costa College, California
1992
Drawing Room, Nexus Gallery, Berkeley, California
1991
Chain Reaction, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Francisco, California
1989
Rags: Clothing as Allegory, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Francisco, California
1987
Faculty Drawing Show, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California, Berkeley, California
1986
Annual Invitational Exhibition, Dinnerware Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
Annual Faculty Exhibition, University Art Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
1985
Wood, Quint Gallery, San Diego, California
A San Diego Exhibition, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, California
REVIEWS ARTICLES AND CATALOGUES
2017
19th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Catalogue, color illus.
1997
Blurring the Boundries, Installation Art 1969-1996, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, Catalogue, color illus.
1995
Artists Who Can Still Draw, Jonathan Saville, San Diego Reader, November 9, 1995, illus.
1989
Rags, Clothing As Allegory, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, Catalogue, illus.
1988
Introductions 88, Christine Tamblyn, ARTNEWS, October, 1988
1986
"Works of 2 Artists Are Linked By Romanticism", Robert McDonald, LOS ANGELES TIMES, November 5, 1986
"Subtle Allegories Lurk Within Landscapes", Robert L. Pincus, SAN DIEGO UNION, November 6, 1986, illus.
"On the Homefront Fills the Room and Your Soul", Robert McDonald, LOS ANGELES TIMES, November 9, 1985, illus.
1985
"Artists Show What is on Their Minds", Robert L. Pincus, SAN DIEGO UNION, November 23, 1985, illus.
"Frank Cole", Marina La Palma, ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE, Vol. 2 Number 4, illus.
1984
"Quint Proves Summer Exhibits Needn't be Dull", Mark Elliott-Lugo, SAN DIEGO UNION, June 21, 1985
"Billboard Hell", Jeff Kelley, LOS ANGELES TIMES, December 23, 1983, illus.
"Something Big and Small", Mark Elliott-Lugo, SAN DIEGO UNION, December 22, 1983, illus.
"A New Approach to Hell", Guillermo Gomez-Pena, LA PENSA, December 23, 1983, illus.
AWARDS
1992
Art Matters Inc. Grant
1983
Ford Foundation Scholarship
1983
Russell Foundation Grant
1981
Ford Foundation Scholarship
TEACHING
2000-18
Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
1994-18
Lecturer, Contra Costa College
1997-02
Instructor, California College of Arts and Crafts
2002
Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley
Provided instruction in Beginning Painting, "The Language of Painting"
1993-01
Instructor, San Francisco State University
1989-92
Instructor, California College Arts and Crafts, Oakland
1987-89
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley
1986-87
Visiting Lecturer, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
1984-85
Program Coordinator, Artist in Residence Program, San Diego City Schools
1982-84
Researcher/Preparator, Stuart Collection, University of California at San Diego
EDUCATION
M.F.A.
University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, California
B.F.A.
California College of Arts and Crafts; Oakland, California
EXHIBITIONS
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
A Different Past, Transmission Gallery, Oakland, California
2018
Inside and Out (On This Exact Spot), Roll Up Project, Oakland, California
2013
Right In The Eye, Bishop Collection UCSF (permanent installation) San Francisco, California
2010
Talking Pictures, a 15 year survey of work from 1995-2010, North First ARTSpace, San Jose CA
1996
Right In The Eye, Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, California
1995
New Drawings, University Art Gallery, University of California, Riverside
1988
Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco, California
1986
Painted Constructions, Quint Gallery, San Diego, California
1985
On the Home Front, Installation Gallery, San Diego, California
1984
Burning in Hell, Sushi Gallery, San Diego, California
All Stood Still, Old Miramar Road, La Jolla, California
1982
Mud and Ice, Mandeville Annex Gallery, La Jolla, California
1980
The Serpent, 80 Langton Street Gallery, San Francisco, California
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
39th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
Pint Size 3: Small Scale Artworks, Transmission Gallery, Oakland, California
2024
38th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2023
37th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2022
Dennis Leon and the Art of Instruction, Oliver Art Center, California College of the Arts, Oakland, California
2021
35th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2020
34th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, online viewing room
2017
Carry On, Thacher Gallery, San Francisco, California
Emeryville Arts Exhibition, Emeryville, California
2013
Scouting Oakland, The Compound Gallery, Oakland, California
2008
Between the Lines, Thacher Gallery, San Francisco, California
2005
Eddie Rhodes Gallery, Contra Costa College
2004
Emeryville Arts Annual, Emeryville, California
2003
ORANGE, The Hey Gallery, Oakland, California
Emeryville Arts Annual, Emeryville, California
The Garden of Eden, Turn of the Century Fine Arts, Berkeley, California
First, USF Arts Faculty Exhibition, San Francisco, California
2002
Faculty Show, Eddie Rhodes Gallery, Contra Costa College
Fresh, Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley, California
2001
Add/Drop, Oliver Art Center, California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, California
1999
Re:Drawing, Southern Exposure, San Francisco CA. Curated by Anne Ayers
1995
Equinox, Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, California
1994
Diderot And The Last Lumiare, Site, Los Angeles, California and Southern Exposure San Francisco, California. Curated by Erika Suderburg
New Faculty, Eddie Rhodes Gallery, Contra Costa College, California
1992
Drawing Room, Nexus Gallery, Berkeley, California
1991
Chain Reaction, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Francisco, California
1989
Rags: Clothing as Allegory, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Francisco, California
1987
Faculty Drawing Show, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California, Berkeley, California
1986
Annual Invitational Exhibition, Dinnerware Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
Annual Faculty Exhibition, University Art Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
1985
Wood, Quint Gallery, San Diego, California
A San Diego Exhibition, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, California
REVIEWS ARTICLES AND CATALOGUES
2017
19th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Catalogue, color illus.
1997
Blurring the Boundries, Installation Art 1969-1996, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, Catalogue, color illus.
1995
Artists Who Can Still Draw, Jonathan Saville, San Diego Reader, November 9, 1995, illus.
1989
Rags, Clothing As Allegory, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, Catalogue, illus.
1988
Introductions 88, Christine Tamblyn, ARTNEWS, October, 1988
1986
"Works of 2 Artists Are Linked By Romanticism", Robert McDonald, LOS ANGELES TIMES, November 5, 1986
"Subtle Allegories Lurk Within Landscapes", Robert L. Pincus, SAN DIEGO UNION, November 6, 1986, illus.
"On the Homefront Fills the Room and Your Soul", Robert McDonald, LOS ANGELES TIMES, November 9, 1985, illus.
1985
"Artists Show What is on Their Minds", Robert L. Pincus, SAN DIEGO UNION, November 23, 1985, illus.
"Frank Cole", Marina La Palma, ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE, Vol. 2 Number 4, illus.
1984
"Quint Proves Summer Exhibits Needn't be Dull", Mark Elliott-Lugo, SAN DIEGO UNION, June 21, 1985
"Billboard Hell", Jeff Kelley, LOS ANGELES TIMES, December 23, 1983, illus.
"Something Big and Small", Mark Elliott-Lugo, SAN DIEGO UNION, December 22, 1983, illus.
"A New Approach to Hell", Guillermo Gomez-Pena, LA PENSA, December 23, 1983, illus.
AWARDS
1992
Art Matters Inc. Grant
1983
Ford Foundation Scholarship
1983
Russell Foundation Grant
1981
Ford Foundation Scholarship
TEACHING
2000-18
Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
1994-18
Lecturer, Contra Costa College
1997-02
Instructor, California College of Arts and Crafts
2002
Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley
Provided instruction in Beginning Painting, "The Language of Painting"
1993-01
Instructor, San Francisco State University
1989-92
Instructor, California College Arts and Crafts, Oakland
1987-89
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley
1986-87
Visiting Lecturer, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
1984-85
Program Coordinator, Artist in Residence Program, San Diego City Schools
1982-84
Researcher/Preparator, Stuart Collection, University of California at San Diego
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TRANSMISSION GALLERY
OAKLAND 770 West Grand Ave., Suite A, Oakland, CA 94612 Open Thurs-Sat, 12 to 5 pm and by appointment Closed Dec 25 and Jan 1 Accessibility: This a 2nd floor art gallery, accessible by stairs |
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