Featured Artist Patricia Fortlage

Artist Patricia Fortlage presents a collection of photographic images that are not as they first appear. See more of her work by visiting her website.

 

 

My name is Patricia Fortlage. I am a documentary and fine art photographer, and subtle activist. My goal is to create work that moves people, work that inspires change, especially for women and girls.

 

 

Studies have shown that if you invest in women and girls, entire communities will be raised. For the past 17 years I partnered with just such programs in developing countries to document their work, the issues they face, and how they are addressing those issues.

 

 

Alongside this, I have also created bodies of work here in the US to advocate for women and girls. Even now, with a progressive diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis and the physical limitations that that entails, I continue to create work to improve the lives of my sisters everywhere. Even my fine artwork seeks to tell a story and inspire change.

 

 

I recently completed a campaign titled, Wonder, girl! which focused on breaking stereotypes for girls. I photographed over 40 women in an effort to inspire teens by showing them all things are possible.

 

 

I also partnered with mental health experts on a project titled, Life Sentence. This project highlights the often life-long challenges for victims of sexual assault. This, along with the work I have done throughout developing countries has been the highlight of my career thus far.

 

 

I have been approached by numerous women who finally sought help with their assault because my images showed them that they are not alone, nor should they feel embarrassed for how they have tried, or not tried, to cope.

 

 

My latest project is an abstract fine art series that seeks to bring awareness to the impact fake news is having on all of us. It is titled, Not As It Seems, and it is a series testing assumptions and encouraging contemplation. What do you see? Are you sure? We are living in a time when jumping to conclusions has become sport. We’re quick. We’re decisive. Are we right? How can we be so quick and so decisive when so much is made up?

 

 

None of these pieces is what it first seems, the end result rarely being a representation of materials used. The series as a whole provides us an opportunity to question our own beliefs and judgements. How quickly am I convinced of what I see? What is the evidence that supports this? Is it credible? In the end, it may simply be an exercise in learning that what we see may not be truth, and allowing for the reality of not becoming an expert at first glance.

 

 

Although my work is highly realistic, it also often evokes a quality that is both intense and dreamlike. The reason? My hope is for the viewer to have an immediate emotional reaction to my images, as opposed to an intellectual reaction, one that will move them and inspire them in how they themselves move in the world. At its most poignant, I would like to hope I have inspired positive change.

 

Patricia Fortlange invites you to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

 

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