Ricardo Fernandez Ortega
Overflight
Meyer Gallery
Ricardo Fernandez Ortega
Overflight
October 20-November 2, 2017
Meyer Gallery 225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 505.983.1434 800.779.7387 www.MeyerGalleries.com
Ricardo Fernandez Ortega was born in Durango, Mexico. He attended the Art Institute at the Juarez University of Durango. He has done 15 individual exhibitions in various spaces in Mexico and the USA. He received two Honorary Mentions at the Painting Biennials "ร ngel Zรกrraga" and of Drawing "Sylvia Pawa". His work can be found in the collections of the Tlaxcala Art Museum, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, the Oaxacan Painters Museum, the Romo Publishing Group and the Milenio Group.
"From the sky, you can see many beautiful things that go unnoticed when looking from the ground," says Mexican artist Ricardo Fernandez Ortega, whose magical realism often depicts female figures surrounded by birds in flight – or even sprouting wings themselves to drift through a calm night sky. Paintings in Fernandez Ortega’s solo exhibition, “Overflight,” encourage this lofty perspective while representing dream-like imaginings and innermost desires.
One Million Questions
oil 35x53
It Was Not Just A Dream
oil 36x28
From Another Time
oil 48x36
Fernandez Ortega’s skillfully realistic painting style and intuitive chiaroscuro technique draw us into his surreal environments with mesmerizing curiosity. Great 17th-century Spanish masters including Diego Velazquez inspire Fernandez Ortega, who currently resides in Durango, Mexico. By combining classical techniques with magical realism, Fernandez Ortega creates a style that is uniquely his own.
Dawn Overlfight
oil 59x69
The Healing
oil 24x30
Through Any Ocean
oil 48x36
Instant Blooming
oil 30x24
Wings, animals and bright or incandescent objects act as symbols in Fernandez Ortega’s work, representing internal qualities such as freedom, goodness and intelligence. Often revolving around a dominant feminine subject, these symbols weave mystifying messages and evoke visceral, subconscious emotions from the viewer. “I would like my paintings to help people understand themselves and each other,” says Ortega. “I’m looking for connections between the subconscious and the realistic events that build our life.”
Flying Lesson Number Two
oil 27.5x35.5
Casual Encounter
oil 47x55
Hearing Whispers
oil 53x58
Revelation
oil 36x45
Goal In Sight
oil 23.5x23.5
In “Journey Partner,” a lavishly dressed female figure crouches by a resting horse with her eyes cast downward. Hovering just above her head is a white flag, billowing in the soft breeze against a dark sky. Is it dusk or dawn? A strip of clear blue light illuminates the mountain range behind her as clouds with a purple tinge begin to overtake the darkness. According to the artist, the white flag represents peace; if the girl and horse were to stand up, leaving the ground where their eyes are fixed, it would be within their reach. Upon first glance, the flag could also be interpreted as a bed sheet, symbolizing the dream world in which the subjects exist. Mysterious and enchanting, Fernandez Ortega’s magical realism is open to the viewer’s interpretations.
Journey Partner
oil 55x71
Ricardo Fernandez Ortega Born November 23th, 1971 in Durango, DGO. México ACADEMIC PREPARATION IN THE SPECIALTY
Institute of Art at the Juarez University of Durango. (unfinished) SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 Notes from Another World, Current Mexican Art Gallery, Monterrey, N.L. 2015 A Deep breath, Meyer East Gallery, Santa Fe NM, USA 2010 Almost Paradise, Chamizal Museum at Juarez, Chihuahua. 2009 Exodus of the Virgins, Room Guillermo Bravo at IMAC, Durango. 2008 Thalamus Horizons, Cultural Center of Casa Lamm, Mex. D. F 2008 Secrets of Penumbra, Corsica Gallery at Puerto Vallarta, Jal. 2007 Day Twelve, Museum of Juarez University of the State Durango. 2006 Dawn, Room Irene Arias at the Art and Culture Institute Durango, Dgo. 2004 Loose Words, Rooms at the Art and Cultural Center in Durango, Dgo. GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016 The Heart and Death, X Gallery at Dublin, Ireland. 2016 Mexican Lottery, International Encounter of Figurative Painting, Museum Ex-Convent of Carmen at Guadalajara, Jalisco. 2015 Poetry Seen By Art, Museum of Carmen, Mexico City. 2014 Collective of Mexican Artists, Desiderio H. Xochitiotzin Gallery, Tlaxcala. 2014 Biennial of Painting Pedro Coronel, Pedro Coronel Museum, Zacatecas. 2013 Biennial od Painting Joaquin Clausell, University of Campeche. 2012 Durango Collective, Palace of the Gurza, Durango, Dgo. 2011 It’s Yours, It’s Ours, It’s Tlaxcalas, Art Museum of Tlaxcala. 2011 New Great Masters, Museum of Centenario, San Pedro G. G. NL.
2010 Regional Biennial Angel Zarraga, House of Culture of Monterrey, NL. 2010 Biennial of Visual Arts of Yucatan, Culture Institute of Yucatán. 2009 Biennial of Drawing Sylvia Pawa, Mexico Institute – Israel, Mexico, DF. 2009 Casa Lamm and Its Artist, Cultural Center of Casa Lamm; Mexico, DF. 2007 Madrid Independent Art Fair “Faim” with the Art Gallery COVI Madrid, Spain. 2007 Emerging Artists from Latin America, New York Academy of Art; Tribeca, NY. 2006 Biennial of Drawing Rafael Cauduro, Cultural Center Tijuana, B.C. 2004 The Road of Silver, Casa Redonda at Chihuahua, Chih. 2003 Expo-Art, Mascareñas Foundation A.C. Juárez, Chih. 2003 Biennial Looks, Codet Foundation, Tijuana, B.C. 2001 Biennial of Drawing and Print Diego Rivera, The Town Musuem of Guanajuato, Gto. COLLECTIONS
Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit Museum of Art of Tlaxcala Museum of Contemporary Art Ángel Zárraga (Durango) Museum of the Oaxacan Painters Gallery of Presidents of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation Romo Editorial Group Group Milenio Black Cofee Gallery AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2013 Selected to paint mural commemorating the 450 Anniversary of the City of Durango 2010 Honorable mention at the Regional Biennial Ángel Zárraga; Durango, DGO. 2009 Honorable mention at the Biennial of Drawing Sylvia Pawa; Mexico DF. Three times beneficiary of PECDA Durango. (1999, 2007 and 2009)
Ricardo Fernandez Ortega
Overflight
“Casual Encounter”
47x55
$7,800
“Chac-Mool”
36x45
$6,500
“Dawn Overflight”
59x69
$12,000
“Flying Lesson Number Two”
27.5x35.5
$4,800
“From Another Time”
48x36
$6,900
“Goal in Sight”
23.5x23.5
$3,500
“Hearing Whispers”
53x58
$9,400
“Instant Blooming”
30x24
$3,600
”It Was Not Just A Dream”
36x28
$4,800
“Journey Partner”
55x71
$11,400
”One Million Questions”
36x53
$7,200
“Revelation”
36x45
$6,500
”The Healing”
24x30
$3,600
“Through Any Ocean ”
48x36
$6,900
Chac-Mool
oil 36x45
Ricardo Fernandez Ortega
Overflight
October 20 - November 2, 2017
Opening Reception Friday October 20, 2017 5 to 7pm
Meyer Gallery 225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 505.983.1434 800.779.7387 www.MeyerGalleries.com