Miami-based artist Marie Franco’s debut solo exhibit, “A primera luz” (“At first light”) at Laundromat Art Space, brings the world of South Florida’s flea markets – their vendors, colors, and quiet moments of survival–onto the white walls of the gallery. On view through Monday, Nov. 24, the show offers an intimate portrayal of Latino immigrant life, told through oil paintings that radiate both warmth and resilience.

The exhibition title, Franco explains, is a tribute to the hours before dawn, when vendors begin their day. “The most important moment I’m trying to capture is the sunrise,” she says. “That’s a reflection of the hustle–waking up before the sun is, setting up before light breaks. The flea market is a loud place, but in my paintings, I look for the moments of quietness within th

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