Sculptures
Installations
Multi-Media
Collaborations
About
Clara Fortis (b. Vienna, Austria) is an interdisciplinary artist based between Zürich, Switzerland and Paris, France. Her research-based practice explores human behavior, informed by her experiences as a third-culture individual, having lived in Austria, Switzerland, Russia, France and the United States.
Working across installation, sculpture and drawing, Clara draws from psychological theories and concepts to create intimate and emotional environments for her audience. Her art is defined and interconnected by an element of brutality, reflected in the use of harsh materials.
Fortis creates sculptures predominantly from steel that highlight the violence of exclusion and what it means to be heard. Drawing on symbols like ears, teeth and entrapped figures, her work delves into the psychological toll of isolation and the complexities of social dynamics. Her sculptures are often built around the body, suggesting gestures of communication and carrying an implied element of performance even when presented as stand-alone pieces. Through these explorations, Fortis invites viewers to reflect on the weight of their interactions and on the importance of fostering meaningful bonds. She challenges audiences to consider how their actions shape the emotional landscape of others.
Education
2021-25 Bachelor of Fine Arts: Parsons Paris | The New School, Paris, France
2023-24 Exchange Year: Parsons | The New School, New York City, USA
Group Exhibitions
2026 Q2, Visual Art Studio Zürich, Switzerland
2025 Portes Ouvertes, Ateliers Sculpture Paris-Montreuil, France
2025 Vivere, Galerie Au Roi, Paris, France
2025 tomorrow will..., Vie Projects, Paris, France
2025 Digital Screening, Thomson Gallery, Zug, Switzerland
2025 Digital Screening, Andakulova Gallery, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2024 Time and Self, Gallery 45, Paris, France
2024 Parsons Printmaking Show, 2 West 13th Street, New York City, USA
2024 Parsons Fine Arts Junior Show, 25 East Gallery, New York City, USA
2022 Prototypes as Palimpsests, Gallery D, Fondation Fiminco, Paris France
2022 Transforming Space and Time, Gallery D, Fondation Fiminco, Paris France
Awards and Residencies
2024-25 Residency, Ateliers Sculpture Paris-Montreuil, France
2021 Honors and Departmental Honors, Parsons Paris, France
2021 Merit Scholarship, Parsons Paris, France
Press and Media
2026 Clara Fortis: When Listening Becomes Form, Aatonau
2025 Artist Interview Magazine Issue 45, Visual Art Journal
2025 Artist Feature Catalogue Volume 16, Point Pleasant Publishing
2025 Brief Shalimar: Bringing Utopia Home, Dépaysants
2025 Clara Fortis, The New School
2025 Exhibition: Paradise in Paris, Dawn Today
2025 Salon Culture 101, Merde Magazine
2025 “Tomorrow Will“: An Exhibition by Brief Shalimar, The New School
Further Experience
2026-Now Art Therapy Assistant, The Living Museum, Zürich, Switzerland
2025-Now Creative Support Group Co-founder, Brief Shalimar, Remote
2024-25 Research and Teaching Assistant, Parsons Paris, France
2024 Video Production Intern, Claudia Poh, Toyota Asia, Paris, France
2024 Photographic Internship, Daniel Meuli, Silvaplana, Switzerland
2023 Artist Assistant, Rachel Marks, 2024 Olympics, Paris, France
2022 Painting Workshop, Isshaq Ismail, Accra, Ghana
2022 Sculpture Internship, Patrick Tagoe-Turkson, Takoradi, Ghana
2022 Painting Internship, Raphael A. A. Mayne, Accra, Ghana