Painting Moments (The Portrait Of An Artist As a Young Gay Man)

2,000 Paintings, One Short Life

A portrait of a Montreal master artist who died at age 29

A new moving theatrical Arcanum production, Painting Moments, has its world premier this season at the Montreal Fringe Festival 2026. Painting Moments tells the true-life story of Nick Palazzo, a brilliant and prolific young painter who created more than 2,000 paintings before his tragic death at age 29. Using Nick Palazzo’s own journal entries for material in which he describes his gay love affairs, and showcasing hundreds of his paintings on a projection screen, as well as providing critical analysis of his work by established art critics, this one-man show offers a graphic and intimate portrait of an artist as a young man. It also explores the artist’s passion, struggles and relentless drive to create in the face of personal and societal challenges. Knowing he was doomed, living with AIDS, Palazzo hurried to capture the men he adored and the city he loved on canvas.

Painting Moments is not just about one artist’s life. It’s about the urgency to create, the fear of being forgotten, and the resilience of the human spirit – even in the face of devastating circumstances. Set against the cultural backdrop of Montreal, the production invites audiences into the inner world of a young artist navigating creativity and mortality, ultimately celebrating the enduring power of art.

Based on Mary Melfi’s non-fiction book, Painting Moments, Art, AIDS & Nick Palazzo (Guernica Editions,1998) and adapted for the stage by the author in collaboration with West Coast impresario, Sharon Malone, this one-man theatrical piece seeks to re-ignite interest in the forgotten artist’s work. Upon its release, the book received strong critical acclaim:

“Painting Moments is a sensitive, accessible, and well-edited portrait of a young artist cut down in the prime of his creativity.”
— Wayne M. Cunningham, Humanities and the Arts

“Art that touched me the most this year, was the 18 paintings done by Palazzo…”
—  Bernard Mendelman, The Suburban

“Painting Moments celebrates the artistic talents and the spiritual strength of a young Italian/Canadian painter.”
— Dr. Tamburri, The University of Toronto Quarterly

“Palazzo captured like no other… snapshots of Montreal life.”
— Fulvio Caccia, ViceVersa

Pays homage to a tragically brief life with excerpts from Palazzo’s journals, the reminiscences of friends, short essays, his art and mostly full-page, colour reproductions of 18 of his powerful pieces.
              —  Philip Marchand, The Toronto Star

Despite such accolades, the reality remains stark: in the past 25 years, not a single gallery has mounted an exhibition of Palazzo’s work. Much of it remains unseen, stored away in a relative’s basement. This play explores themes of artistic ambition, identity, love and loss. It also raises enduring questions about recognition, legacy, and the often-overlooked contributions of artists who live and work outside the spotlight.

Both poignant and thought-provoking, this first-person narrative, beautifully delivered by the actor, Nick Fontaine, and directed by the ever-talented director, Anton May, celebrates Palazzo’s immense artistic legacy and honors both the man and the moment in history that shaped his journey.