Self-taught artist Gabe Fonorow began his art career in Brooklyn, New York, debuting abstract pen-and-ink work in a 2014 exhibition at Brooklyn Fire Proof East. Later that year, he moved to North Carolina, where he clarified his style: undulating, organic shapes systematically composed of straight lines. That his style is so deeply tied to rhythm and movement is no surprise, given Gabe's formal education in jazz performance from William Paterson University. The connection between his visual work and music is most apparent in Marathon – a series of twenty-six works, each composed of one mile (with the exception of miles 13 and 26, at 1.1 miles each) of lines. This series premiered at Sawtooth School for Visual Art in April 2018, an exhibition which cemented his place in the contemporary Southern art scene, both among peers and collectors.
The primary theme of his work is the beauty that manifests in human endurance. His persistence, from line to mile to marathon, exemplifies the struggle and victory of art. To that end, Gabe also coaches fellow creatives, from beginners to seasoned professionals, offering feedback on process and product. He finds that the most efficient way to get more art into the world is to not only make art, but to encourage and support fellow artists.
Recently, he relocated to Hawaii, where the vibrant natural environment inspires him to continue exploring form, color, and (of course) line.
