Toronto-based artist and sculptor Sophie Defrancesca creates lifelike wire mesh sculptures of dresses, gowns and other figurative works that are capable of fooling the eye from a distance. Her finely twined bodices, adorned with Swarovski crystals, fit exhibition spaces as easily as they would a fashion runway.
DeFrancesca was ten years old when her mother passed away, leading to an interest in maternal figures. An immigrant who fled wartime Europe, DeFrancesca’s mother was resilient and fashionable, often captured in photographs wearing beautiful clothing handmade by family members. As a child, DeFrancesca used these pictures to create clothing for her dolls, both as a way of remembering her mother and to engage with her fascination with vintage apparel. DeFrancesca later graduated in 1990 from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) and in the early 2000s, she began using wire mesh as a design material to examine rigidity in fashion and the role of femininity. She shaped the galvanized steel mesh into life-size human forms.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, she has expanded her practice into laser-cut plexiglas to allow for more intricate detailing that furthers the illusion. She has exhibited in group and solo shows across North America, including at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta; the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, Nebraska; and at various spaces in Toronto, Montreal, New York and Miami. Her 2022 exhibitions included shows at the Newzones Gallery Of Contemporary Art in Calgary and the Oeno Gallery in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Sophie DeFranesca’s sculptures and mixed media.
Rebirth of Venus
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Iconic Marilyn in Iridescent Gold 3
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Blue Aphrodite
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Ms. Universal Love
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Original Blonde Bombshell (Variation 2)
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Garnet Red Aphrodite
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Control of the Masses 22
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Atomic Pink
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Blue Moon
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Champagne Celebration
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Ms. Universal Peace (variation 2)
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Vintage Cameo
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Primal Blue
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Golden Era
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Control of the Masses 20
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Just Too Much
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Big Hair Big Dreams
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Control of the Masses 16
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Control of the Masses 17
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Buck Berry
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Breakfast at Tiffany's (Variation 5)
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Ms. Parallel Universe
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Solar Radiance
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Midas Touch
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Sun King
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Forest Swag
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Black Venus
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Control of the Masses 14
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Blondes Have More Fun
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
$45,000
H 52 in W 18 in D 16 in
Linda Stein, Vestment 628 - Contemporary Mixed Media Metal Wood Armor Sculpture
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
Vestment 628 from Linda Stein’s Knights of Protection series functions both as a defender in battle and a symbol of pacifism. The series references popular and religious icons such ...
Metal
$45,000
H 51 in W 15 in D 7 in
American Contemporary Mixed Media Sculpture - Linda Stein, Knight of Dreams 531
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
This sculpture from Linda Stein’s Knights of Protection series functions both as a defender in battle and a symbol of pacifism. The series references popular and religious icons suc...
Stone, Metal
$7,000
H 16.5 in W 9.5 in D 0.5 in
Ceramic, Wall Hanging, French Cleat, Stoneware, 2D Sculpture, Tarot 17, The Star
By Alessandro Gallo
Located in St. Louis, MO
Ceramic, Wall Hanging, French Cleat, Stoneware, 2D Sculpture, Tarot 17, The Star “Animals carry strong associations that make them ideal in portraying, sometimes humorously, our bas...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Paint, Mixed Media
$45,000
H 48 in W 12 in D 7 in
American Contemporary Mixed Media Sculpture - Linda Stein, Knight of Triumph 530
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
This sculpture from Linda Stein’s Knights of Protection series functions both as a defender in battle and a symbol of pacifism. The series references popular and religious icons suc...
Stone, Metal
$35,000
H 48 in W 15 in D 9 in
Linda Stein, Protection 469 - Contemporary Mixed Media Metal Wall Sculpture
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
Linda Stein, Protection 469 - Contemporary Mixed Media Metal Wall Sculpture Protection 469 is from Linda Stein’s Knights of Protection series, which she started after being forced ...
Metal
$45,000
H 78 in W 23 in D 6 in
Linda Stein Bold Quest- Contemporary Mixed Media Colorful Wonder Woman Sculpture
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
This sculpture from Linda Stein’s Knights of Protection series functions both as a defender in battle and a symbol of pacifism. The series references popular and religious icons suc...
Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic Polymer, Archival Paper
$45,000
H 48 in W 16 in D 6 in
American Contemporary Mixed Media Sculpture - Linda Stein, Knight of Wishing 557
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
This sculpture from Linda Stein’s Knights of Protection series functions both as a defender in battle and a symbol of pacifism. The series references popular and religious icons suc...
Stone, Metal
$45,000
H 41 in W 16 in D 5 in
Knight of New Thoughts 667 - Contemporary Mixed Media Wearable Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Knight of New Thoughts 667 is from Linda Stein's Body-Swapping Armor series. These wearable sculptures are ambiguous and androgynous in form, allowing the wearer to explore new and different body and gender incarnations. This artwork was part of Linda Stein's exhibition titled "The Fluidity of Gender", which has traveled to 30 institutions in the US, including the Holter Museum of Art and Noyes Museum of Art. Please note: this work can be displayed hanging...
Metal
$55,000
H 79 in W 24 in D 9 in
Justice for All 698 - Contemporary Mixed Media Sculpture
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
Justice for All 698 from Linda Stein’s Knights of Protection series functions both as a defender in battle and a symbol of pacifism. The series references popular and religious icon...
Wood, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Archival Paper
$45,000
H 65 in W 24 in D 19 in
Linda Stein, Tough Love 683 - Contemporary Mixed Media Fashion Leather Sculpture
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
Linda Stein, Tough Love 683 - Contemporary Mixed Media Fashion Leather Sculpture Tough Love 683 is from Linda Stein's Body-Swapping Armor series. These wearable sculptures are ambig...
Metal
$45,000
H 62 in W 22 in D 14 in
Arrow Knight 670 - Contemporary Mixed Media Wearable Performance Sculpture
By Linda Stein
Located in New York, NY
Arrow Knight 670 is from Linda Stein's Body-Swapping Armor series. These wearable sculptures are ambiguous and androgynous in form, allowing the wearer to explore new and different b...
Metal
$45,000
H 38 in W 19 in D 16 in
Linda Stein, Hard Cover 775- Contemporary Mixed Media Nut Shells Brown Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
This sculpture from Linda Stein’s I am the Environment series explores the artist's relationship to the earth and addresses the interconnectedness of all living things. This sculptur...
Mixed Media
The Blue Buck
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Iconic Marilyn in Iridescent Gold 2
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to...
Mixed Media
Blue Lagoon
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
With the addition of deep blue lagoon pigment the artist has transformed galvanized steel mesh, wire and liquid latex into an elegant evening dress. This g...
Metal
Control of the Masses No 25
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Galvanized steel mesh, wire, metal screen and liquid rubber are transformed into a lingerie confection with the addition of black paint, pearl beads and dangling grey Swarovski cryst...
Mixed Media
True Blue
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Galvanized steel mesh, wire and brilliant turquoise liquid latex are transformed into a life sized trophy head of a buck in this wall mounted sculpture. In mythology, the stag may re...
Steel
Eternal Deep
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Playful sculpture of the iconic trophy of a majestic moose head. This work is lifesized, and the scale (including the shadlow) gives the work great presence. Toronto-based artist,...
Stainless Steel
Higher Love
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
An elegant formal white sculpture of a wedding dress that references desire, marriage, elegance and confidence. Defrancesca's forms are rendered out of galvanized and stainless s...
Stainless Steel
A Star is Born
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Toronto-based artist, Sophie Defrancesca graduated from the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) in 1990. While working in various commercial art fields for over a decade, sh...
Stainless Steel
Mademoiselle Extraordinaire
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This mixed media sculpture of a spaghetti-strap cocktail dress by Sophie DeFrancesca conjures up an image of an idealized life women may have enjoyed in 1950s Paris or Hollywood. The playful little red...
Stainless Steel
Avec Plaisier
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This saucy sculpture hangs suspended on clear lines. Toronto-based artist, Sophie DeFrancesca graduated from the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) in 1990. While workin...
Stainless Steel
Skin Deep
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This elegant and evocative teal sculpture floats in space, suspended on two clear lines. Toronto-based artist, Sophie Defrancesca graduated from the Ontario College of Art (now O...
Stainless Steel
Midnight Whispers
By Sophie DeFrancesca
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Wall-mounted dress, part of DeFrancesca's gown series. Rich blue black paint sparkles in the light. Handcrafted roses adorn the wire mesh gown sculpture. The shadow becomes an intere...
Steel