Francis Chapin had an active exhibition history with over 24 major museum and gallery exhibitions including two at the Art Institute of Chicago (1928 & 1952) and one at the Museum of Modern Art (1942). He participated in over 160 group exhibitions and won over 20 important awards and prizes. His work has been acquired by such venerable institutions as the Art Institute of Chicago, Brooklyn Museum, Library of Congress, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum.
Known primarily as a colorist, Chapin's exuberance, explosive brushwork and imposing 6'6" height masked a gentle, even-tempered man, loved and greatly admired by his students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he taught for over 20 years. As a plein-air painter, Chapin recorded the essential elements of a location, with a strong, fauve-like iconography. He traveled extensively, even through Texas, always looking for subjects that demanded his attention.
