Mountain Shadows Hosts the Fortoul Brothers

Mountain Shadows presents new works created specially for this exhibition by Gabriel and Isaac Fortoul, the Fortoul Brothers, whose art is influenced by their preoccupation with dreams, mystery and evocative symbols. “The Oasis Emerges,” curated by John Reyes, showcases a variety of charcoal and acrylic pieces never before seen.

The Fortoul Brothers’ paintings, murals, sculptures and installations are indebted to cubism with their bold lines, blocks of color and flattened perspectives. They also read like vibrant, wordless comics about relationships, emotions, spirituality and culture.

Their pieces are the product of philosophical meditation on the ultimate meaning of human existence and on how to live closer to nature and in touch with the elemental forces of the cosmos.

“From the land of Arizona, we absorbed the strength required to survive in an apparently harsh environment. In the desert we found a treasure of minute exotic life forms and in the community we found the support to follow our dream,” the brothers say.

The result is a combination of the ordinary with suggestions of the extraordinary in a single piece of work, leaving final interpretation open to debate but always touching the deepest emotional fibers of the viewer.

“Our goal with our artwork is to really show that our community is all from the ‘same.’ From the earth that we stand on to the food that we eat, we exist collectively, and once we realize that we break down barriers. We are very excited to show our work to a new group of people that might not be aware of what we do and how we aim to connect and provide harmony through a highly positive experience,” the brothers say.

The Oasis Emerges

Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

The Gallery at Mountain Shadows, 5445 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley

For more information, visit mountainshadows.com.