In “The Aspirant” Frank depicts himself as an angelic figure floating against a backdrop resembling an abstract classical-style sunset or dawn. The sky in the painting isn’t a seamless expanse but rather a reflection, like light passing through a skyscraper’s windows or a church’s stained glass. It exudes a sense of hard geometry rather than free-flowing beauty. In the artwork, Frank’s eyes are filled with tears, and he holds a cross.

Frank paints himself as elevated above unattainable aspirations. It’s a portrayal of what’s perfectly imperfect. The joy of beauty moves us to tears, as does the pain of beauty that seems just out of reach. The life of an aspirant, one who seeks the elusive, is bittersweet, a path not easily traveled by everyone. And this is where art and artists come in. Frank, in my view, embodied both capturing the essence of the human struggle, the oscillation between giving and receiving, and the ever-changing seasons of life. It’s a testament to the power of embracing both joy and sorrow, loss and gain.