Francisco Ortega



Francisco Ortega lives and works in London where he also carries out life performances since June 2003.
Some of his work is in private collections in England, Scotland, Denmark, Mexico, Italy and Spain.

The subject, title and theme are just an excuse to reach and develop what is my real objective: the transformation of a blank canvas into something alive; something that works for itself through colours and shapes rather than for its own meaning if any. I like to work with strong contrast between colours and vigorous strokes and always trying to find balance from the chaos.

My work is under a constant process of metamorphosis, through the dialogue between intuition, improvisation and the meditated construction of an image. It is a pastiche of all the different moments, thoughts, images and things, which I am engage with.
The final result of any of my paintings is conditioned by the evolution and accumulation of intuitive gestures and a long process of errors, mistakes, struggles and trials seeking a potential image.
I work with no preconceived ideas, instinctively, submitting my work to a constant rhythm of change and transformation. Not just the colours and composition are open to be transformed but the meaning, the significance of the painting. What today it is an open, clean, blue sky, tomorrow it could be a perfect storm. This dynamism it is what it gives us the possibility of remerge, and purify things as well as ourselves.

1997 studied classic drawing with Jose Luis Pajuelo, Sevilla
1997 Acepted into the fine arts university Sevilla
2002 Graduated in Fine Arts by the University of Seville
2003 C.A.P

2002 Finalist at “Corredor Verde”
2002 Finalist “VII Muestra de Artes Plasticas ciudad de Dos Hermanas”
2002 Honorable mention “Concurso de Pintura Rápida ciudad de Carmona"
2004 moved to London.

Exhibitions:

Group Exhibitions:

2008 Islington Arts Factory, London
2007 Mackenzie pavilion, London
2006 Galeria Guadalquivir, Sevilla
2006 142 Project, Londres
2004 Abney Public Hall, Londres
2002 Universidad De Bellas Artes De Sevilla
2002 Museo de Historia de la Ciudad De Carmona
2002 Consejeria de Medio Ambiente, Sevilla
2001 Fundacion Verbum, Sevilla
2000 Festival Audiovisual Zemos’98

Solo Exhibitions:

2008 Courtyard Theatre, London
2005 Abney Public Hall, London
2003 142 Project, London
2003 Casa de la Cultura de Mairena del Alcor, Sevilla.

Collaborations as Illustrator:

2007/08 Tendencias. Cultural magazine. Sevilla
2007 Todo es de color a pesar de la sombra. Stefania Scamardi. A book about social compromise
2004. El Documento, Documentary about Spanish people living in London, directed by Jose Alvarez and Kaho Kojima
2002/03 Brigadas Blanquinegras. Sports Magazine. Sevilla