Russell Frantom, the Chicago-based artist and poet, is set to release his debut book: A vulgarity laced comedy, featuring original drawings and poems inspired by true life events, recovery, the Bible, and un-filtered thoughts about his daily life. The Book, titled "Life After Death" is set to be published by August 2026
(PRUnderground) April 18th, 2026
In 2010, at the age of 19, Russell Frantom started what would become an ambitious art career with his first solo art show called “The Faces of Death” held in a gallery in Jacksonville Florida. Since this time, Frantom has sold his paintings to private collectors throughout the World and has shown and exhibited all over The United States, primarily in the Chicago area and in his hometown of South Bend Indiana.
In his first publishing endeavor, Frantom’s writings are focused primarily on his ongoing recovery efforts, mental health struggles, the Bible and religion, and many rants about feeling betrayed and abandoned by his family, friends, and his hometown (South Bend IN).
Writing in a highly comedic tone, Frantom tells a story that is self deprecating and funny- including many new poems, doodles and short stories to paint a portrait that is both dark and hilariously optimistic. “I have always considered myself to be a comedian before anything else. I hope my enemies and family like the new drawings” Says Frantom.
In the book, Frantom details faking his death on the internet, controversial art projects that divided his community, a hilarious but darkly dysfunctional family situation, all while owning up to his own problems and shortcomings and how he has personally contributed to what he calls “a pretty strange time”
“Everyone just thinks I’m nuts in South Bend, and the arts community has really treated me badly since 2020, which bothers me because there was a time when I tried to help others there the best I could. I used to run, organize and host charity art events called “Bizarre Coterie” at the now defunct State Theatre there, and those events were popular and big, and I tried for as long as I could to do what I could to help the arts community- but overtime, my hometown turned on me and so I started to write this book to express how I feel about it all, and it ended up being very, very funny.” Says Russell Frantom, who is represented by Chicago based Pyramid Art Gallery.
“I understand completely about being upset with someone’s teenage history, especially when it is like mine. But I do ask myself for how long someone should be punished for the things they did before they were an adult. I am the only person who really got hurt if you think about it, but not justifying it. I am however a 35 year old man now and I believe I have did things to be helpful plenty, and I really really am hoping that this book can help people as well. It is dark humor. Very self reflecting but in a deprecating way. I want it to be a dream come true for anyone struggling with sobriety and recovery” he says.
The Book, “Life After Death” is set to be published this August and will be available for purchase on Amazon.
About Pyramid Art Gallery
Pyramid Art Gallery represents a diverse and unique selection of artists mainly from the Chicago area.
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Original Press Release.
