Octopus Photograph - Limited Edition of 7

My name is Patricia Fortlage and I am a documentary and fine art photographer, and subtle activist. My goal is to create work that moves people, work that inspires change, especially for women and girls. Studies have shown that if you invest in women and girls, entire communities will be raised. I seek to do just that. For the past 17 years I partnered with just such programs in developing countries to document their work, the issues they face, how they are addressing those issues, and the awareness they seek to bring to that work. Alongside this, I have also created bodies of work here in the US to advocate for women and girls. Even now, with a progressive diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis and the physical limitations that that entails, I continue to create work to improve the lives of my sisters everywhere. Even my fine art work seeks to tell a story and inspire change. I recently completed a campaign titled, “Wonder, girl!” which focused on breaking stereotypes for girls and young women. I photographed over 40 women in an effort to inspire teens and tweens by showing them all things are possible. I also partnered with mental health experts on a project titled, “Life Sentence.” This project highlights the often life-long challenges for victims of sexual assault. This, along with the work I have done throughout developing countries as a documentary photographer, has been the highlight of my career thus far. I have been approached by numerous women who finally sought help with their assault because my images showed them that they are not alone, nor should they feel embarrassed for how they have tried, or not tried, to cope. My latest full project is an abstract fine art series that seeks to bring awareness to the impact fake news is having on all of us. It is titled, “Not As It Seems,” and it is a series testing assumptions and encouraging contemplation. What do you see? Are you sure? We are living in a time when jumping to conclusions has become sport. We’re quick. We’re decisive. Are we right? Fake news has become an art form. It’s everywhere. How can we be so quick and so decisive in our conclusions when so much of what surrounds us is made up? I hope to challenge this through this fine art series. And now I have begun a love letter to the chronic illness community, an ode to the women who are gaslighted every day.