March 1 - May 3, 2024
From the Laredo Center for the Arts:
“Olivia Ortiz’s exhibition unveils a compelling narrative through large-scale abstract anatomical landscapes on canvas and expansive works on paper. These humanistic forms intricately explore the physical metamorphoses of the female body within the framework of the universal experience. Her large-scale paintings allow the viewer to step into her journey while experiencing their own. The work demands a large canvas as a reminder to ourselves to take space. All women traverse from there to here, crossing arbitrary lines manufactured by the patriarchy. The journey from there to here is an evolution of themselves whether it is physical, intellectual, or emotional. Through Ortiz’s lens, she questions whether lines, limits, and borders would even exist if it weren’t for the ruling class forcing their existence. Ortiz employs varied gestural brush strokes on textured canvases, utilizing a bold and striking skin color palette that draws the audience into the narrative of the survivor’s journey. Her meticulous process, involving charcoal and conte’ on small papers, seamlessly transforms stoic messages into a lyrical dance on canvas. Each shape embodies a complete kinesthetic movement, and each line, rhythmically marked with scores of brushstrokes, becomes a ritualistic warrior notation collecting memories and providing glimpses of internal joys and conflicts. The collection evokes a meditative state, inviting viewers into a healing experience. Ortiz’s paintings serve as profound documents or letters, allowing us to read and understand her nuanced processing of the surrounding world. The angles and shapes within the artwork appear to jut out, sharing a poignant story with the observer. Through this resilient universe of visual storytelling, Ortiz crafts a captivating exhibition that delves into the profound depths of personal and collective resilience.”
Reception: March 1, 2024 | 6–9 pm
500 San Agustin
Laredo, 78040 TX
956-725-1715
Get directions