Artist Profile: Ivan Fortushniak
Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb
Ivan Fortushniak
b. 1972
"As a painter, my process involves a combination of traditional and unconventional methods, including direct opaque painting and glazing, and burning and scratching….The bulk of my work juxtaposes water towers, smokestacks, and Boeing aircraft, with landscapes inspired by George Inness, Winslow Homer and Albert P. Ryder." – Ivan Fortushniak
Ivan Fortushniak received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his Master of Fine Art from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. His paintings call into question how humans can be better caretakers of the environment through beautiful landscapes scarred with images of decay, including airplanes, factories, and power plants. Fortushniak also incorporates historical figures from art history into his work, revolving around themes of war, religion, and the natural world. Often including collage and text within his paintings, Fortushniak’s images provoke both nostalgia and criticism.
Ivan Fortushniak, Exploded Storm, oil on panel, 1999, 2000.099.1.
Ivan Fortushniak, Central Smoke Stack, oil on Masonite, 2016.103.10.
Ivan Fortushniak, Landscape, oil on panel, 2016.103.11.