Ron Fortier

MY PAINTING ILLUMINATES HIDDEN HISTORIES AND GIVES VOICE TO THE QUIET SPACES BETWEEN WHAT IS SEEN AND WHAT IS FELT…

My work explores the shifting layers of memory—personal, historical, and cultural—and how time alters our understanding of truth and identity. Through abstraction, I investigate what remains after the experience: traces, scars, and silences that shape who we are. Each painting becomes an excavation, uncovering what has been hidden, forgotten, or deliberately erased.

In my work, this expression emerges through textured surfaces, gestural marks, and the interplay between control and accident. I use acrylic, some collage, and mixed media to build and erode layers, revealing fragments of color and form that suggest both loss and renewal. These visual decisions mirror the process of remembering itself—imperfect, nonlinear, and deeply human.

My practice reflects a sustained commitment of time, energy, and focus. Each painting evolves slowly, through constant revision and reflection. I devote extensive hours to experimentation, research, and reworking, allowing the materials to speak and the process to guide the image. The resulting works embody decades of experience and an enduring pursuit of authenticity. They testify to my belief that painting can illuminate hidden histories and give voice to the quiet spaces between what is seen and what is felt.