J. Franklin Fine Art was established in 1994 by Jay Franklin. Jay is native to the Seattle area and studied at the University of Washington.
The gallery specializes in Northwest and Western artists such as Sydney Laurence, Eustace Ziegler, Morris Graves, Mark Tobey, C. C. McKim, C. S. Price, Carl Morris, Emily Carr, Paul Gustin, Z. Vanessa Helder, Helen Loggie, Waldo Chase, James Washington Jr, Frank Kunishige, Edward Curtis, Darius Kinsey, Carl Rungius, Frank Tenney Johnson, Maynard Dixon, Birger Sandzen, Walter Ufer, Victor Higgins and Ernest Blumenschein…while also handling 20th century studio crafts by masters such as Rudy Autio, Paul Bonifas, Howard Kottler, George Nakashima, Gertrud & Otto Natzler, Robert Sperry, Peter Voulkos, Patti Warashina, & Louis Mideke.
Jay became interested in art early in life and has a naturally keen eye for quality. Art is now a life-long passion for him. Jay was on the Council of American Art Board of Directors at the Seattle Art Museum for ten years.
Jay’s younger brother Jamie is intimately involved in the art field as well, and assists J. Franklin Fine Art, Inc. whenever possible. Jamie received a Masters Degree in Art History from Williams College in Massachusetts, after completing his studies at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA.
Jamie has worked at the prestigious Smithsonian American Art Museum and in the American Art Department at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He is currently the Head Curator of Collections at The Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont.
Their father Paul has a passion for New England antiques and architecture, from which stemmed the family passion for American Art. Jay’s wife Heather develops and maintains the technical and marketing aspects of the business. Mother Renee helps with the business, as well.
We are currently involved in acquiring the finest in American, Western and Pacific Northwest Art & Studio Ceramics of historical and aesthetic importance for our clientele. Putting together collections emphasizing aesthetics and scholarship is our goal. Our collections are comprised from Art featuring Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington and other regions of interest.
Also included are pieces from the following areas: Early Western Landscapes; Western, Wildlife & Sporting; Modern Masters; Still Life; Figural; Photography; Prints; Studio Ceramics and Modern Sculpture. The gallery has special interest in early to mid 20th century impressionist and modern works from these areas, but not to exclude any finer works from the mid 19th century, on through the appropriate contemporary artists.
Inquires to both acquire and sell works are treated with the utmost confidentiality and professionalism. We are always actively seeking to purchase, broker and consign fine works of Art.