NEW YORK.- Franck de Las Mercedes is one of the most prolific painters to have emerged in the United Sates in recent years, and whose works, from his large scale abstract paintings, to the acclaimed public project “The Priority Boxes”, have presently sparked great interest in his work.

"The Priority Boxes" project is an art series that seeks to provoke thought, to make people reconsider their ability to influence change, to interrupt the daily grind and to question their own priorities.

Artist Franck de Las Mercedes wonders what you would do if you suddenly received a painted box via mail, labeled “FRAGILE: Contains: Peace or Hope?” How would you use it? Would you give it to someone else? Would you sell it? Would you just throw it away?

Such a box is exactly what Franck will send to anyone who asks him, anywhere in the world, for free.

Each box is the canvas for a unique abstract painting and is dedicated with a personal "Fragile:." message. Some messages are directly based on Franck's response to the person who asks for one, but you never know what you'll get, until you receive it.

By using a box format, sent by mail, Franck aims to make people realize the fragility of what they are holding, the intimate personal quality of it, and appreciate that these are things that can be gifted to one another.

The fact that the boxes are shipped for free and the art is on the outside, are critical to the experience of the work, says Franck. Normally, one doesn't look at the outside of boxes, but to the content. Here, the beauty and the "Fragile" message are on the outside for all to see and consider. Likewise, the boxes must be free, in order to reinforce and reminds us that things like hope are free, says Franck, and that peace and change can be achieved or even given mutually or reciprocally.

Born in Masaya, Nicaragua, Franck de Las Mercedes resides in the New York Metro area. Franck de Las Mercedes was recently selected to pose body painted in front of his painting "Altered States", for acclaimed celebrity photographer Felix Natal Jr. for the book “Naked in the City”. The artist was also a subject in an upcoming documentary by Cara Weiner on abstract painters. With his latest project, the "Priority Boxes", Franck de Las Mercedes has been featured in national television and radio shows such as the nationally syndicated LatiNation, CNN Radio En Español, and Telemundo. He has also been featured in articles in several national and international publications like Impacto Latin News, Nicaragua’s La Prensa, Estrella de Nicaragua and Art Business News. For more information on the artist or the Priority Boxes Project: www.fdlmstudio.com.