Paolo Fortin maintains visual art studios in Toronto, and Peterborough. Since 2012 he has been the owner and director of Polite Society, (formerly Evans Contemporary)
EDUCATION
2003
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, NS, one year of MFA Program
1998
Ontario College of Art, Toronto, ON, AOCAD
1997
Maine College of Art, Portland, ME, one year residency
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
Not to See the Sun, Polite Society, Peterborough, ON
Not to See the Sun, Dupont Rail, Toronto, ON
2017
Strange Tales from Blue Fish Creek, Star X, Peterborough, ON
2012
Visual Residue, Telephone Booth Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008
Boilermakers, Ketilhus, Akureyri, Iceland
White, Patrick Mikhail Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2007
( ), ODD Gallery, Dawson City, YK
2006
Boca del Drago, CCA7, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
The Third or Fourth Day of Spring, Lobby Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2005
Duffle Cuttings, Swoon Gallery, Toronto, ON
2003
Sic Transit Gloria, Gallery 83, Vancouver, BC
2001
Without a Trace, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, BC
Without a Trace, The Showroom, Chicago, IL
2000
House: A Project, Artspace, Peterborough, ON
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020
Under the Radar, Dupont Rail, Toronto, ON, Curated by Sheri Orenstein
2014
balloon / portal / starres / fiends, DNA Artspace, London, ON
2012
Peterborough Triennial, Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON
2010
Artist in the Park, Northern Images, Churchill MB
Artist in the Park, Northern Images, Yellowknife, NT
Artist in the Park, Northern Images, Inuvik, NT
2008
Somewhere Near There, Populus Tremula, Akureyri, Iceland
2007
Jokulhlaup, Populus Tremula, Akureyri, Iceland
Cyclone, Proverommet Bit Teatergarasjen, Bergen, Norway
Apertura Winter 2007 Show, Gallery 1313, Toronto, ON
2006
East, West, North, Patrick Mikhail Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2005
Square Foot, A.W.O.L Gallery, Toronto, ON
Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT
Wave, Swoon Gallery, Toronto, ON
2004
connectdisconnect, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, BC
Plot, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, NS
2001
Fine Print, A.W.O.L Gallery, Toronto, ON
Artropolis, CBC Broadcast Centre, Vancouver, BC
1999
Artwork, BC Festival of the Arts, Victoria, BC
Global Visions, Artspot Gallery, Golden, BC
Art and Artists of the 20th Century, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, BC
1998
Threshold(s), Artspace, Peterborough, ON
Artwork, BC Festival of the Arts, Prince George, BC
1997
The Sculpture Show, 3 Fish Guild, Portland, ME
CURATORIAL
2012 - present
Curator and director for Polite Society (Evans Contemporary)
2014
Terre Sauvage, Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON - co-curated with Maralynn Cherry
2008
Somewhere Near There, Populus Tremula, Akureyri, Iceland
2007
Jokulhlaup, Populus Tremula, Akureyri, Iceland
2004
connectdisconnect, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, BC
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2012
Can Serrat, Artist in Residence, El Bruc, Spain
Spiro Arts, Artist in Residence, Park City, Utah
Carriage House, Islip Art Museum, Artist in Residency, East Islip, NY
2011
Canada Council Art Bank Purchase
2009
The Wanderer Thematic Residency, Banff Centre, Banff AB
2008
Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant
Gil-society Akureyri, Artist in Residence, Akureyri, Iceland
2007
Kulturhuset USF, Artist in Residence, Bergen, Norway
Gil-society Akureyri, Artist in Residence, Akureyri, Iceland
Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant
2006
Canada Council Intl. Residency, CCA, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Best Painting Award, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
Lobby Gallery Artist in Residence, Vancouver, BC
2005
Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant
Optic Nerve Thematic Residency, Banff Centre, Banff AB
Artist in the Park, Ivvavik National Park, YT
Canada Council for the Arts Creation/Production Grant
Artist Designed Room, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON
2003
Pouch Cove Foundation, Artist in residence, Pouch cove, NF
2002
British Columbia Arts Council project assistance grant
Northern Arts Residency, Atlin Art Centre, Atlin, BC
2001
Canada Council for the Arts travel grant
2000
Atlin Art Centre, Artist in residence, Atlin, BC
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2019
Taylor, Nicky. Evans Contemporary: Arts, Commerce, and the Downtown Core. The Arthur. Jan. 2019
2018
Jaeger, Ann. Unpacking Artists Spaces. Trout in Plaid. Sep. 2018
2017
Jaeger, Ann. A Space for Us. Trout in Plaid. May. 2017
2016
Hoekstra, Aryen. Katie Lyle at Evans Contemporary - Review, Toronto. Canadian Art Magazine. Fall. 2016
Jaeger, Ann. Evans Contemporary: New York, Berlin, Peterborough. Electric City Magazine. Feb. 2016
2015
Fazackerley, Michael. Evans Contemporary: A vision for Peterborough as an international centre for art and culture. Kawartha Insider. Oct. 21, 2015
2014
Fazackerley, Michael. Seeing With New Eyes. KawarthaNOW: Art on the Streets. Nov. 9, 2014.
McElroy, Gil. Jeanie Riddle at Evans Contemporary. Akimbo: Akimblog. Sep. 23, 2014. www.akimbo.ca
Jaeger, Anne. Spring Fever Cultural Roundup. Trout in Plaid. Feb. 23, 2014. http://troutinplaid.com
Brown, Kayla. New London, Ontario, Gallery Intrigues and Excites. Canadian Art Online. Nov. 5, 2014.
2013
Jaeger, Anne. Paolo Fortin / Evans Contemporary. Trout in Plaid. Sep. 4, 2013. http://troutinplaid.com
Fazackerley, Michael. Comic Strip Inspired Charm.... KawarthaNOW: Art on the Streets. Dec. 2, 2013.
Macklin, Jeff. Sea to Surface. KawarthaNOW: Art on the Streets. June. 1, 2013.
Macklin, Jeff. John Abrams: Remix Moderne. KawarthaNOW: Art on the Streets. March. 1, 2013.
2012
Sarah Elise Hall, Amanda Buonocore and Paolo Fortin. Blurb Publishing. 2012. Text by Jason Paradis
Macklin, Jeff. Evans Contemporary. KawarthaNOW: Art on the Streets. Jan. 1, 2013.
2011
Paolo Fortin - Paintings for Ghosts. Blurb Pubishing. 2011
Kenny, Amy. Art in the Park. Canadian Geographic. April 2011
2008
Carte Blanche Vol. 2 Toronto: Magenta Publishing for the Arts, 2008
2007
Fauskanger, Kari. Omreisende i kunst Bergens. Tidende.March 30, 2007
Evoking the feeling of island Obeah. Bookmann (http://thebookmann.blogspot.com) Jan. 12, 2007
2006
Juszkeiwicz, Zuzia. Third or Fourth Day of Spring, Vancouver: Lobby Gallery.2006
2005
Alexie, Elaine. Artist in the Park. Suaangan episode #6, APTN. Fall 2005
Artists in the Park, Northwind, CBC Radio One. July 15, 2005
Driscoll, John. Doing Art Without Consuming Materials. The Grassroots Review. April 18th, 2005
2004
Show Explores Connections to Nature, Community and Self. Comox Valley Echo. July 16, 2004
Paul Fortin Curates CVAG’S Latest Show, Comox Valley Record. July 16 2004
connectdisconnect, Courtenay: Comox Valley Art Gallery. 2004
2001
Wild, Paula, Fortin Captures Fear in Artwork. Comox Valley Record Nov. 2, 2001
Martin, Tony, Without a Trace. The Island Word. Oct. 5, 2001
Lost At Sea in a Forest of Art. Comox Valley Record. Oct. 5, 2001
Without a Trace, Vancouver: Pocket Change Press. 2001
Artropolis 2001. Pg. 25, Vancouver: A.T. Eight Artropolis Society, 2001
2000
Webb, Heather. Home Sweet Home. Peterborough: Artspace. 2000
Rosser, Jenny. Home is Where The Art Is. The Arthur. Jan. 25, 2000