White Fence | Keith M. Francis

White Fence by Keith M. Francis. A monumental outdoor sculpture examining suburban ideals, boundaries, and social structures, featured by MassArt x SoWa.

A large-scale architectural sculpture titled "WHITE FENCE" by Keith Francis (2020), measuring 100 x 108 x 72 inches. The work is composed of numerous vertical wooden pickets, painted a clean, semi-gloss white and mounted on a low-profile aluminum base. Unlike a traditional straight fence, these pickets are engineered with dramatic bends and tilts, leaning inward and outward to create a dynamic, undulating corridor. The spacing between the pickets is wide enough for a person to pass through. The "bends" in the wood are a deliberate reference to Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of passive resistance. Some of the vertical elements intersect to form subtle cross-like shapes, referencing colonial history. The sculpture is shown installed in a gallery with white walls and polished concrete floors, where the overhead lighting casts long, rhythmic shadows that extend the reach of the physical pickets. The work serves as a critique of the "American Dream" and the barriers to equity.
A large-scale architectural sculpture titled "WHITE FENCE" by Keith Francis (2020), measuring 100 x 108 x 72 inches. The work is composed of numerous vertical wooden pickets, painted a clean, semi-gloss white and mounted on a low-profile aluminum base. Unlike a traditional straight fence, these pickets are engineered with dramatic bends and tilts, leaning inward and outward to create a dynamic, undulating corridor. The spacing between the pickets is wide enough for a person to pass through. The "bends" in the wood are a deliberate reference to Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of passive resistance. Some of the vertical elements intersect to form subtle cross-like shapes, referencing colonial history. The sculpture is shown installed in a gallery with white walls and polished concrete floors, where the overhead lighting casts long, rhythmic shadows that extend the reach of the physical pickets. The work serves as a critique of the "American Dream" and the barriers to equity.

You may also like

Lovelocks | Keith M. Francis
Lovelocks by Keith M. Francis. A public art commission in New Bedford, Massachusetts featuring a structural steel heart, granite base, and interactive community padlock net, supported by TDI and MassDevelopment.
Mother Nature: The Common Thread
8’-0” X 8’-0” X 3'-0", 3/8" solid rolled steel, powder coated, and Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana).
#401 | Keith M. Francis
#401 by Keith M. Francis. A hand-formed stainless steel wall sculpture with a mirror finish. Featured in Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine (Issue #44, Spring 2026, France).
The Firefighters | Keith M. Francis
The Firefighters by Keith M. Francis. A stainless steel and granite memorial sculpture honoring the six Worcester firefighters who tragically lost their lives on December 3, 1999. Private Collection.
#146 | Keith M. Francis
#146 by Keith M. Francis. A textured metal wall sculpture featured in a corporate public art loan collection with State Street, examining industrial form and surface transformation.
The Common Thread | Keith M. Francis
The Common Thread by Keith M. Francis. A 2027 public art commission in Corten steel featuring structural arches reflecting New Bedford, Massachusetts' historic mansions, churches, and textile mills.
Glittering Patterns | Keith M. Francis
Glittering Patterns by Keith M. Francis. A public art commission in New Bedford, Massachusetts featuring kinetic suspended panels, steel, aluminum, and concrete footings, produced with the New Bedford Economic Development Council.
University of Mississippi | Keith M. Francis
Ole Miss: University of Mississippi by Keith M. Francis. A monumental stainless steel and I-beams sculpture featured at the University of Mississippi Museum collection.
↑Back to Top