Franco The Great: Born to Live: The True Story of The Man Who Made Harlem Beautiful

In 1978 artist Franklin Gaskin, known as Franco the Great, took it upon himself to change a negative into a positive by painting inspiring murals on metal storefront gates in Harlem, creating a new art form. On Sundays when stores were closed, Franco painted two hundred gates from the West to the East Side of 125th street. These striking murals portray Franco’s forward-looking philosophy-his very first gate painting is entitled, I Must Bloom Where I Am Planted.
From a tragic childhood accident in Panama to world-renowned Harlem artist, Franco shares his one-of-a-kind art and immigrant life story with great honesty. On most Sundays, you can still find Franco on a corner of 125th Street greeting visitors with warm hugs and kisses. Through his body of work in Harlem, Franco has received invitations to paint murals in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. Please visit www.francothegreat.com.