Francis Baker, an Oakland, CA-based artist, has been an innovator in the field of alternative process photography for three decades. His work delves deeply into critical societal issues, with a focus on social justice, inequity, homelessness, mental health, and the complexities of the human condition. Additionally, Baker critically examines the consequences of consumerism, especially its adverse effects on the environment. His recent projects highlight society’s reliance on plastic, using it as a potent symbol to critique human behavior and its significant impact on climate change.
Baker’s unique work has been showcased both nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in New York, Chicago, Santa Fe, San Francisco, Paris, and Switzerland. His contributions to the art world have earned him several awards and fellowships, such as the Klompching Gallery’s Fresh 23 exhibit award, the inaugural fellowship residency at The Image Flow in Mill Valley, CA, and a fellowship at the KALA Art Institute in Berkeley, CA. His art has been prominently featured in the De Young Museum Fine Arts magazine and Analog Forever magazine, as well as, in 7x7, Tricycle Magazine, Divergents Magazine, Diffusion X, and The Hand Magazine, where his gum bichromate photograph received cover placement.
In 2023, Baker expanded his engagement with the art community by curating “far away is NOW,” an exhibit at a non-commercial gallery in Berkeley, CA. This initiative further solidifies Baker’s role in continuously pushing the boundaries of his artistic practice and engaging with critical global issues.