Photo by Richard Kagan
BIO
VICENTE ORTIZ CORTEZ is a contemporary Mexican artist. His work addresses themes of sexuality, identity, and anthropocenic anxieties. He exhibits internationally, with shows at Museu da Praia (solo) in Alagoas, Brazil, the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, PA, and at the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, among others. He is a recipient of awards from the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia, PA, the Bump'N'Grind Film and Performance Fest in Toronto, Canada, and from Red Line Art Works in Bath, United Kingdom. He serves in the Penn State School of Visual Arts Alumni Board, and in the exhibition committees at University City Arts League and Da Vinci Art Alliance in Philadelphia, PA. Ortiz Cortez received his BFA from The Pennsylvania State University, and also attended Studio Arts College International (SACI) in Florence, Italy.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I explore themes of sexuality, identity, and anthropocenic anxieties. My work ranges from intimate colored pencil drawings to hand-dyed rice installation art, all of which is influenced by my catholic upbringing in the macho culture of rural Mexico. Through the use of my culture’s vibrant color palette, I bring attention to and raise questions about the fate of nature and humanity.
CV
VICENTE ORTIZ CORTEZ
b. Mexico, lives and works in Philadelphia, PA, USA
EDUCATION
2014 Bachelor of Fine Arts, The Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
2013 Studio Arts College International (SACI), Florence, Italy
HONORS AND AWARDS
2020 Best Dance Film (for EEUU, 2019), 1st Annual Bump’n’Grind Film and Performance Fest, Toronto, Canada
2020 Michelle Angela Ortiz Curatorial Fellowship, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
2019 14th Annual Juried Art Exhibition Award (for EEUU, 2019), Juror: James Claiborne, William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Highly Commended Award, Red Line Art Works, Bath, United Kingdom
2014 Stefan J. S. Levine Endowment Award, The Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
2014 Margaret Giffen Schoenfelder Memorial Scholarship Award for Painting, The Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
2012 William J. and Lois Kesterson Leight Scholarship Award for Demonstrated Artistic Ability, The Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
2011 Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity Scholarship Award, The Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
2020 Paz Futura (2084), Museu da Praia, Alagoas, Brazil (collection)
2014 vih-SEN-tay, Patterson Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
2021 Togetherness & Oneness, Williamsburg Art & Historical (WAH) Center, Brooklyn, NY (juried)
2021 What Are You Looking Forward to in 2021?, An Artist a Day, anartistaday.org
2021 When the World Stopped: Queer Life 2020-2021, William Way LGBT Community Center Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (virtual)
2020 Tenses: Queer Bodies Through Time, William Way LGBT Community Center Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (virtual)
2020 Philly's Freedom: Artists Speak Out, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA (October 16, 2020 - April 25, 2021)
2020 Noche de Película, Film Festival, PDX Latinx Pride, Portland, OR (virtual)
2020 1st Annual Bump’N’Grind Film and Performance Fest, Toronto, Canada (Nominations: Best Dance Film, Best Performance Film) (award) (virtual)
2020 Roxie Roz Burlesque, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (virtual)
2020 Artists for Black Lives Matter: The Pandemic Alliance Edition, Virtual, Artists for Black Lives Matter, 1310 Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Upcoming)
2020 The Phenomena of Natural Phenomena, New Society Art, Stem Advocacy Institute (SAi), Boston, MA (Curated by JennyMae Kho) (virtual)
2020 Eros and Thanatos, Beam Collective, Tel Aviv, Israel (Curated by Igor Zeiger, Maria Rosenblatt, and Erika Tal-Shir) (virtual)
2020 Unrealisierte Projekte, feldfünf, Berlin, Germany
2020 In 24-Hours: Desirable Feelings, The Wall Space Gallery, Scotland, UK (Curated by Ayshia Taskin and [SHIFT:ibpcpa]) (virtual)
2020 What Now?, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT (virtual)
2020 Artist, Reader, Writer II, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Student and Faculty Exhibition, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Perennial Visions II, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
2019 14th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, William Way LGBT Community Center Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (Juror: James Claiborne, independent curator and Public Programming Manager, African American Museum, Philadelphia)
2019 215 | 610 CONTEMPORARY: Juried Exhibition of Regional Emerging Artists, Art Gallery, Delaware County Community College, Media, PA (Juror: Jodi Throckmorton, Curator of Contemporary Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum)
2019 Stonewall @ 50, Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (invitational) (Co-Curators: David Acosta & Janus Ourma)
2019 Expanding the Queer Perspective, The Common Room & Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Common Room, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Encounters with Whitman, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA (Jurors: Stiofan O'Ceallaigh, UK & Jose Luis Cortes, Puerto Rico)
2019 Small Favors: Juried, Korman Gallery, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA (invitational, by Jennifer Zwilling)
2019 Postcards from the Edge, Visual AIDS, Bortolami Gallery, New York, NY
2019 Objectified 2019, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA) Museum, Gyeonggi, South Korea (catalog)
2019 Group Exhibition, Red Line Art Works, Bath, United Kingdom (award) (virtual)
2014 Courage to Create, New Leaf Initiative, State College, PA (works censored)
CURATORIAL WORK
2020 Curator, Respect for the Rights of Others is Peace: Building on Hope, Unity, Sacrifice, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Juror, Colors of Hope, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Gallery X, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Curator, Chanthaphone Rajavong: FUTURE/SUSTAINABLE, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Curator, Laura Mecklenburger: Spell Craft, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Co-Curator, Formerly Philly, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA
COLLECTIONS
Museu da Praia, Alagoas, Brazil
El Minia University, Minya, Egypt
EXPERIENCE
Exhibitions Committee Member, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA, 2021 - Present
Board Member, Penn State School of Visual Arts Alumni Board, 2020 - Present
Gallery Committee Member, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA, 2018 - Present
Curatorial Assistant, Palmer Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Summer 2014
Assistant, Edwin W. Zoller Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2011 - 2013