“LEGACY EXHIBITION”: Andy Franz is shown with a student in the Princeton Day School (PDS) woodshop. An exhibition honoring him and his work will be on view in the Anne Reid ’72 Gallery April 2-30. (Photo courtesy the PDS Archives)
The Anne Reid ’72 Gallery at Princeton Day School presents “Andy Franz: Legacy Exhibition,” opening on April 2, with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibition honors the late Andy Franz (1936-2024), beloved PDS teacher and advisor of 29 years, and parent of Susan Murphy ’86 and Robert A. Franz ’91. It will be on view through April 30.
This exhibition brings together handcrafted furniture and woodwork by Andy Franz, his students at PDS, and the Nakashima Studio, where he worked as a master craftsman for over a decade. A towering figure at Princeton Day School and a true legend among its many impactful educators, Franz’s influence on the school and its students is both deep and enduring.
Franz was born in Palanka, Yugoslavia (then part of Austria-Hungary). At a young age, he was forced into a concentration camp, where most of his family members perished. Franz and his mother were able to escape slavery in 1947, with the help of his father, crossing into Hungary. At the age of 15, Franz apprenticed as a cabinetmaker to help support his parents while attending school. In 1956, he immigrated to Ellis Island, assisted by a sponsor in Trenton to begin his new life in America.
Franz worked for the acclaimed furniture designer George Nakashima for over a decade before transitioning to a teaching position at PDS, where he remained until his retirement in 1998. The school’s senior award for excellence in woodworking bears his name, as does the Princeton Day School woodshop, enduring symbols of his impact. Until his death, Franz attended the award ceremonies each year, personally shaking the hand of every student recognized, reflecting the care and pride that defined his teaching.
On view in the gallery, alongside photographs and furniture loaned from the Franz family and the Nakashima studio, are dozens of tributes from Franz’s former students. Together, these materials speak to a teacher who was not only an inspiring and masterful craftsman but also a deeply respected mentor and cherished friend to many.
This exhibition was co-curated by PDS Arts Faculty in Furniture Design Christopher Maher and Arts Faculty in Painting and Drawing and director of Anne Reid ’72 Gallery Gwen Shockey ’06, with partnership from Director of Alumni Engagement and Strategy Amy Gallo ’03.
Princeton Day School is at 650 great Road. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For private viewings, email annereid72gallery@pds.org. For more information, visit pds.org/the-arts/anne-reid-72-gallery.