About the Artist
Ellen Hackl Fagan
Artist · Curator · Founder of ODETTA
Ellen Hackl Fagan is a New York–based artist, curator, and the founder and director of ODETTA gallery in Brooklyn. Her practice spans large-scale installation, painting, and interactive performance — all exploring the synaesthetic relationship between color and sound. Since 2014 she has led ODETTA, producing over 75 exhibitions focused on Color Theory, Minimalism, Glyphs, Fluxus, Science, Math, and Music.
Biography
Influenced by scientific theories — both real and imagined — Fagan's abstract paintings, computer games, and interactive performances build connections between color and sound. Her ongoing series Seeking the Sound of Cobalt Blue has evolved into floor-to-wall installations of large-scale watercolor and pigments on rag paper that explore the nature of printmaking processes, texture, and surface.
The ColorSoundGrammar Game, developed over two decades, enables viewers to practice sensory blending — or synaesthesia — as they pair colors with each note of the Do Re Mi musical scale. To date, over 600 people have played the game, and the data gathered informs Fagan's painted palettes.
Fagan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame (1982), a Master of Fine Arts from Hartford Art School (2005), and a certification in Max/MSP Jitter from Harvestworks, New York (2006). Her work has been reviewed in Artillery, The New Criterion, Hyperallergic, The New York Times, and Arts in Bushwick.
Career highlights
A practice in color, sound, language, and collaboration
1982–2006
Foundation in art and digital media
Earned a BFA from Saint Mary's College, an MFA from Hartford Art School, and certification in Max/MSP Jitter from Harvestworks in New York.
2000s
ColorSoundGrammar takes shape
Developed an interactive game that invites participants to pair color with the Do Re Mi scale, creating a living archive that informs painted palettes.
2014
Founded ODETTA
Opened ODETTA in Brooklyn, establishing a curatorial platform for contemporary art across color theory, science, music, and experimental practice.
2010s–present
Expanding painting into installation
Extended Seeking the Sound of Cobalt Blue into floor-to-wall installations that explore pigment, printmaking, texture, and surface.
2026
COLOR'S HEALING FORCE
Curated COLOR'S HEALING FORCE, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!, continuing an ongoing commitment to color as a social, sensory, and cultural force.
Gallery
ODETTA
Founded in 2014, ODETTA is a Brooklyn-based gallery creating changing exhibitions of contemporary art focused on Color Theory, Minimalism, Glyphs, Buddha Mind, Fluxus, History, Humor, Psychedelia, Ephemera, Science, Math, and Music. Over 75 exhibitions have been curated and produced since opening.
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