Today we’d like to introduce you to Lizbeth Ortiz.
Lizbeth, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
From an early age, I was fascinated by color and creating things. My paternal grandfather was a tailor and my maternal grandfather was a carpenter. Watching them work and playing with their scraps are some of my fondest childhood memories.
I was fortunate enough to have supportive parents who encouraged me to study art and attended the High School for Performing Arts in Houston. I left Houston to study fashion design at Pratt Institute in New York and fell in love with my culture. I drew strength and found inspiration from my ancestors and traditions to claim my own space amongst such a diverse setting. After 9/11 I created my first public Day of the Dead Altar in the Village in NYC.
I realized art was the best medium to express my feelings and to help my community start the healing process. In 2004 I moved back to Houston and along with a community of inspired artists, we organized the first Frida Festival in Houston in 2005. In 2008 I was honored as the official artist for the Latin Grammy, celebrated in Houston. In June 2011 I received the 2nd place award in the national Bohemia Beer contest – “The Kahlo Challenge”. Currently, I have a studio at Hardy & Nance where my work is on display and enjoy curating art shows and organizing festivals with my East End Studio Gallery art family.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Through my work I share my passion and compassion for my familial culture and traditions. Some of the reoccurring themes in my work are the sacred heart and the day of the dead symbols. Inspired by my Catholic roots, the sacred heart is the anatomically correct heart that along with the skulls transcend economic, social and racial barriers, creating a universal dialogue with the viewer. I feel that no matter your background, race or social status we can all identify some way with death and life/the human heart.
I sometimes joke that I have creative A.D.D. because I like working with various materials. My favorite is working with mixed media using found and recycled objects. I love texture; I feel it is the perfect exclamation mark to create emotions, colors and memories. Lately oil painting has been my medium of choice in preparations for my next show in September which has been inspired by the people and places I’ve been able to travel to and be inspired by in the last 8 yrs.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
Success is having a group of grade school kids stop by your studio wall and laugh and enjoy your work, some may even take selfies with a certain piece that reflects the country’s current state of affairs.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I have a studio, #13 at Hardy & Nance Art Studios, located at 902 Hardy Street, Hou. TX 77020. Every 3rd Saturday we have open studios and it’s open to the public, 5 – 9 pm.
Karbachtober Fest: Friday 9/21, 5 – 10 pm. 2032 Karbach Stl, Hou. TX 77092. Just Ink #7: Saturday 9/22, 5 – 9 pm. 902 Hardy Street, Hou. TX 77020. Wanderlust: Saturday 9/29, 6 – 9 pm. 902 Hardy Street. Hou. TX 77020. New works will be presented inspired by adventures in foreign lands.
Contact Info:
- Address: 902 Hardy Street, #13, Houston Texas, 77020
- Website: www.LizbethOrtiz.com
- Email: azulfrida@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azulfrida/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizbethOrtizArt/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/azulfrida
Image Credit:
Portrait picture by Laura Corley Burlton.
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