Fran Gonzalez (1959) - Gold Chess (XXL)

Title: Gold Chess (XXL)

Theme: "Gold Chess" (XXL) is part of the artistic work started more than 40 years ago by sculptor and gilder Fran González (Contemporary Gilding).

Fran González, an artist specialized in using gold leaf as a contemporary artistic medium, focuses his work on uniting traditional crafts with experimentation and the creation of novel techniques exclusive to his practice. His reinterpretation of gilding and the use of unconventional materials as an artistic language set him apart in the contemporary art scene. In Fran González’s work, gold leaf and other metals (bronze, aluminum, silver, etc.) are used as expressive and symbolic media, beyond mere decorative value.

"Gold Chess" in particular is a large-scale work, elegant and luminous. Its richness of textures and patinas, its strong visual presence and its Expressionist and Art Deco aesthetics make it an ideal piece for collectors. This artistic work is conceived to fill any interior space with magic and warmth.

Technique: Acrylic and Gold on synthetic gold vinyl. Application of multiple layers of imitation gold leaf with acid-made patinas.

The work is delivered with a Certificate signed by the artist, guaranteeing its authenticity, authorship and provenance.

Warnings: to facilitate transport and reduce shipping costs, the work is delivered without a stretcher and frame, rolled up on itself and with a double protective wrap.

Fran González’s artistic work is primarily Expressionist with Japanese Zen influences, which means that all imperfections, cracks, peeling, etc. in the paintings are intentional and are used for their poetic and aesthetic value.

It is also noted that the sizes of the paintings appearing in some photomontages (mockups) may sometimes not correspond exactly to reality and are offered only as reference for how the work functions in a contemporary interior design context.
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On gilding techniques: Traditional gilding involves applying very thin sheets of metal (gold, silver, imitation gold (i.e., bronze), aluminum, copper, etc.) to any artistic surface (wood, metal, ceramics, textiles, etc.).
Contemporary Gilding: Contemporary gilding techniques are unique and exclusive to Fran González and originate from the experimental philosophy of 20th-century contemporary art, developed over more than 40 years of professional career, and they impart to the works qualities that radiate a magical light that fills the space where they are exhibited.
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Shipping: wrapped, protected packaging
Measurements: 103 cm x 140 cm. (XXL)
Hand-signed on the reverse Fran González, by @contemporarygilding
Year 2026
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Fran González (Spain, 1959) is a contemporary artist who works gilding (gilding) from a current and exclusive perspective. Under the name "Contemporary Gilding" he explores the contrast between the material and the symbolic by creating unique works.
González’s career began in 1982 when, after studying Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, he decided to devote himself full-time to Sculpture and Ceramics. He studied Art at the Madrid Fine Arts School, the Official School of Ceramics of Madrid and participated in various Contemporary Art Workshops at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid with relevant contemporary artists such as Julian Schnabel, Eva Lootz, Juan Hidalgo and Valcárcel Medina, between 1982 and 1990.
Although his development has been mainly autodidactic, Fran González has secured various national and international prizes and recognitions since the start of his career. Thanks to having lived in several European countries, his works are in numerous private collections in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the USA.
More extensive information about his work and career can be found by using Google with the tags "Fran Gonzalez" and "Contemporary Gilding".
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Fran González in the media:
(Article about FG in the European Craft Portal "Mad´in Europe" (Excerpts))

"Fran(cisco) González is a contemporary ceramist, sculptor, painter and gilder whose practice unites traditional craft and innovative technique. With more than four decades of experience, his work reflects a continuous dialogue between material, process and inspiration. His main gilding method, used about 80% of the time, is water gilding, which he chooses for its lower toxicity and sustainability, especially when working indoors...

Much of Francisco’s work is inspired by archaeological artefacts and ancient cultures. Whether the Greeks, the Etruscans, the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Chinese, the Japanese or the rich hybrid Arab culture in Spain, his fascination lies not only in the forms and techniques of the past but in the emotional resonance they carry. This emotional depth imbues his ceramics, gilded sculptures and even his evolving work in jewelry design.
This curiosity led him to prehistoric origins and, gradually, to experimenting with new materials and forms..."