Inside the Artwork: An Interview with Ivan Fortushniak
Muriel Zollinger, Mercyhurst student interviewer and Cummings Art Gallery attendant, interviewed Ivan Fortushniak. The full interview can be read below. Fortushniak’s work is currently on display at the Cummings Art Gallery, located in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University. The exhibition will be displayed until Friday, Feb. 27. Fortushniak is also the juror for the 2026 Patricia S. Yahn Juried Student Art Show.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AUTHOR: Mercyhurst Student Interviewer and Cummings Art Gallery Attendant, Muriel Zollinger
Statement by the Author:
It has been a pleasure having Fortushniak’s work in the gallery, and I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to interview him. The work in this show so masterfully combines message with technique, I wanted to ask questions about both. I’m very interested in what other artists and art forms inspire artists, as I believe the media you consume has a direct effect on the things you create. I admire compositionally that Mr. Fortushniak’s pieces often show a detail shot, juxtaposed with a vast landscape behind the focus. This effectively gives the viewer a glimpse into the world of the painting and establishes context for how the viewer interprets the work. Fortushniak identifies that he wants his work to be relatable in some sense, and this technique is quite successful. I wanted to ask these things about process, inspiration, and reflections because of the unique style of Fortushniak’s work. It’s important to have these “behind the scenes” interviews with artists, and I thank Matthew Coté and Fortushniak for this opportunity.
Muriel Zollinger (MZ): Where are you from, and what kind of effect or influence (if any) do you think that’s had on your art making?
Ivan Fortushniak (IF): I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, but primarily raised in the thumb of Michigan along Lake Huron. It was in Michigan where I became deeply inspired to paint and draw with the guidance of my uncle, Dennis Schommer, who was a professional artist. This helped propel me to study painting and drawing in college, particularly the works of George Inness and Winslow Homer. After earning my degrees at Kendall College of Art and Design, and the University of Cincinnati, with employment pitstops at the Des Moines Art Center and the University of Kansas, I eventually landed a job at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Of all these places, the landscapes of Michigan have had a big impact on my work, although this is not always clear. When I work partially from memory, the landscapes from this region creep into my paintings. Upon moving to Pennsylvania, I unexpectedly encountered God in a profound way and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, which has guided me in various ways as an artist, but now with a deeper purpose. I did not expect this at all. I was simply looking for a place to work but was strongly drawn to God.
MZ: Are there any authors, poets, musicians, or other non-visual artists that you are particularly inspired by or admire from an artistic standpoint?
IF: Documentaries mostly inspire me. This includes director Ken Burns and his films “The Civil War” and “The Dust Bowl.” I'm also inspired by the 1974 British documentary series “World at War,” created by Jeremy Issacs. When I create art such as paintings and prints, I mostly listen to the Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, Tears for Fears, some 90's grunge, 1980's British invasion music, David Crowder worship music, Billy Joel, Big Country, John Denver, Yo Yo Ma, The Police, The Ukrainians, and much, much more. These documentaries and music all in some way make their way into the mood and content of my work.
MZ: How has your art changed over time? More specifically, have you noticed a change in your art since you started teaching?
IF: I have been teaching college students since my graduate school days back in 1999, so it is hard to see the changes. However, my work has progressed from primarily oil painting to a variety of mediums like watercolor and printmaking. My creative research has influenced the courses I teach and vice versa. For instance, a research project that included watercolor painting led to the creation of two new courses at IUP, a beginning and an advanced watercolor painting class. In addition, I was given the opportunity to teach printmaking at IUP in the last couple of years, which has allowed me to explore and implement printmaking more into my creative research. My work fuels my teaching, and my teaching fuels my work.
MZ: Your watercolor pieces are uniquely “framed.” Could you explain why you display them this way?
IF: The watercolors are adhered and mounted using rabbit skin glue on a hardboard and then cradled on a simple frame. Although exposed, this was an economical but presentable way to display the work since I don't pursue selling the work. As a result, the watercolors are raw, real, and accessible. However, I still hope to protect the work in the future under plexiglass but in an economical way. Ideas have been in the works.
MZ: What do you hope viewers get from your art, both in this show and in general?
IF: Although the works in the show are specifically about war, historical, and current trends, I hope the viewer becomes inspired by the process and design strategies and contemplates the meaning and narratives of the paintings and prints. I hope it prompts them to study it closely and experience a visual sensation that leads them into the mood and narrative. And ultimately, I hope that it is relatable in some way to their lives.
MZ: If you were a color, what would it be, and why?
IF: I would want to be a dark gray because it is considered achromatic and allows other pure prismatic colors to stand out in contrast.
To view the exhibition, visit Cummings Art Gallery Monday-Friday from 2-6 p.m. The reception is on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5-7 p.m. Learn more on the Recollections: Paintings, Drawings, & Prints by Ivan Fortushniak event webpage here: https://miac.mercyhurst.edu/events/recollections-paintings-drawings-prints-ivan-fortushniak
PHOTO 1: Fortushniak's artwork, The Drone.
PHOTO 2: Fortushniak painting in a studio.