Robert Franca studied art at SVA, Skowhegan, and the NY Studio School, from 1969 to1975.

Before he was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to study painting in Italy in 1982 - ’83, he resided in NYC, where he drove a cab, was studio assistant to artist Salvatore Scarpitta, was a night attendant for a paraplegic artist and became a church sexton. He married in 1980. Italy, and especially its Architecture, had a profound effect on him and continues to be a guiding influence in his work. The year following Italy, and until around 1990, he assisted the mural artist Richard Haas; painting and sometimes helping design the in-scale elevations and maquettes for his large scale, architectural trompe l’oeil murals. In 1985, his son was born.

Around 1989, Franca began to develop his own mural painting business, designing and completing several large interior commissions. In 1990, he attained membership in United Scenic Artists (local 829) and worked on numerous feature film, theatre, and TV productions, including a three year, full-time stint as scenic charge for an NBC daytime soap, “Another World” (94-'97). During this time, Franca never ceased to pursue his personal artistic endeavors and began working on sculptural reliefs and paintings that were linked to surrealism by an intuitive process. This work often reflected the conflicts and ideals of raising a family. In 1990, he began Sunday telephone conversations, lasting for over 10 years, with sculptor Louise Bourgeois, whom he viewed as a mentor. It was a relationship that continued, while frequenting her salons, until her death.

After 2001, when his wife narrowly escaped the attack on the World Trade Center, he more or less left the scenic union to concentrate full-time on his art.Franca stated: “ ‘Among’ the many well respected and influential artists I feel fortunate to have personally known and studied with - Lennart Anderson, Bill Bollinger, Jean Dupuy, Paul Georges, Philip Guston, Reuben Nakian, Salvatore Scarpitta, Richard Stankiewicz, and Esteban Vicente - have personally touched my practice.”

Robert recently completed successful residencies at Skowhegan, 2021, Yaddo, 2017 and the Obras Foundation in Portugal, 2018Brooklyn born and raised, he again resides there, focusing on images both seen and imagined with realistic and sometimes surrealistic results