Michael Fortenberry

Lives and works in New Paltz, NY, USA

Artist statement

I have been attracted to creative expression as a bridge to the unconscious mind, allowing art to become a vessel of the human experience. To me, this experience is defined as the physical interaction between the artist and the material. Therefore, I find value in distinct qualities of hand-made imperfections as a representation of human creation in a world of increasing technological artistic methods. When the pursuit of perfection is taken into one's hands as opposed to a machine, the sense of connection is enhanced between artist and artwork. My process of creation is just that: a way in which I can explore this array of complexities of personal beliefs and experiences. The act of working with one’s hands is an act that connects artists to the acquired human evolutionary trait of craft. Our ability to craft is a primary reason we are distinct from other species. Humans have built a relationship with their environment by utilizing their hands to cultivate warmth, clothes, food, tools, and art. Through my work, I strive to emulate the human and material relationship to inspire ingenuity and longevity. Through this, I feel a deep connection with the histories of both my materials and craft. Through the manipulation of raw material, I push the visual experience past what the viewer might conceive given the physical constraints of the medium. I am captivated by how material interacts with both space and movement through situating rigid structures in a way that inspires a...

Artwork