New Artist: Tori Gagne

We are pleased to announce our newest artist, photographer Tori Gagne. Gagne's collection of limited edition photography has three distinct series - abstracted trees, abstracted land and seascapes, and wild horses. 

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tori Gagne earned a BFA in Fine Art Photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her love of photography began in grade school working with a pinhole camera and developing film in the darkroom in her family home. She was deeply influenced by her mother and brother who were both professional photographers.

Tori has a retired off-the-track thoroughbred, who has led her deeper in to the world of horses, inspiring her to devote much of her work to photographing equine subjects. She has a special affinity for wild horse photography and is happiest on a dirt road in the western states seeking herds of wild horses to photograph, and advocating for them through her work.

For Tori, there is something very special and spiritual in standing in the high desert in complete silence, experiencing the vast U.S. Western lands where wild horses roam. Her journeys to photograph horses in the wild or sanctuaries, and travel to international locations, has given her ample opportunity to photograph incredible landscapes and waterscapes. In addition to her equine work, Tori creates expressive images of the natural world that reveal the essence and emotion of being immersed in these environments.

Tori has exhibited her work nationally and internationally and has received international awards for her photography, which is in private collections globally. She currently resides in her hometown of Orono, MN. 10% of proceeds from selling her equine work is donated to organizations involved in the protection of wild horses and the necessary education regarding the plight of the wild horse population in the western United States.

"I am thrilled to have Tori come on board with Sorelle," says Owner, Sandy Pelletier. "Her work captures the wild parts of nature, like sprawling and tangled tree branches, expansive ocean waves, and horses of the West, and presents them all in a way that is still, and tranquil. Her work celebrates the natural environment and simultaneously delivers a message of warning about the consequences of not valuing our surroundings, all with a crisp and contemporary aesthetic execution."

"My series of wild horse photographs embodies the ideals of freedom, wildness, power, beauty, protection and more," Tori says. "Our wild horse population in the United States is under constant threat through competition for natural resources from mining, ranching, water and politics.

"The horses are protected under the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. In the not so distant past it was descendants of these horses that helped develop our country. They are living symbols of the American west and freedom, deserving of our respect and humanity. Unfortunately, wild horses are being rounded up by the thousands at tax payer expense and stockpiled in longterm holding pens. Few are aware that if they are not adopted or rescued by a kind soul or a sanctuary they are shipped off to slaughter for human consumption in foreign countries.

"The horse is a highly sensitive and intuitive creature. My experiences with wild and domestic horses have had a long-term grip on my photography practice, I have spent the last ten years focusing my lens on the beauty and wildness of the iconic American Mustang in order to bring a bit of that wildness to my viewers. My hope is to inspire others not only to appreciate the beauty of these extraordinary creatures but to help preserve their place on our public land."

Explore Tori Gagne's collection of limited edition fine art photographs in her Artist Collection, and learn more about her print and frame options on her Photography Explained page.