Fran Siegel's Arrábida series explores botanical azulejo tiles at Wilding Cran Gallery

Fran Siegel's latest series, Arrábida, delves into the plant-inspired designs present in Portuguese azulejo tiles, highlighting their role in conveying cultural memory. This collection was created during her Fulbright fellowship, which took her to Lisbon, Ovar, and the Arrábida Natural Park. Siegel investigates the stylized botanical shapes found on tiles from the 16th century, exploring how these patterns both depict and abstract local vegetation. These designs reflect histories influenced by trade, religion, and cycles of destruction and renewal. The project examines how ornamentation and geometric principles convert tiles into mediums for cultural expression and identity. Currently, Wilding Cran Gallery is showcasing this exhibition, which navigates the connections between memory and place through Portugal's unique tile artistry.