Background

Ortiz, a self-taught artist, was born in Ibagué, Colombia.

Education

Dario Ortiz revealed his abilities in painting at an early age. Observing his son’s interest in visual art and his achievements at various competitions, Ortiz’s father taught him oil painting at the age of twelve. Within three years, Dario took part in his first group exhibitions. Later, Ortiz explored Chinese painting techniques.

He received a diploma from Colegio San Tarsicio, Bogotá in 1986. From 1990 to 1991, he studied History and Art Appreciation at Jorge Tadeo Lozano University.

He tried to study Chemistry at the National University of Colombia in Bogotá and Law at the Universidad Externado de Colombia (Externado University of Colombia) but finally came back to his childish passion and devoted all his time to painting.

Although Ortiz was taught oil painting by his father, he is considered an autodidact painter.

Career

The start of Dario Ortiz’s career can be counted from 1987 when he showed his artworks in his first solo exhibition. The following year, he dropped out of his university studies and concentrated on developing his skills in art. Ortiz first became an assistant at restoration workshop, then served as an illustrator for a variety of books and periodicals. He took an active part in the cultural life of Colombia.

During the course of his career, Dario Ortiz has participated in many group exhibitions in about 20 countries and has had about thirty solo shows in Italy, the United States, France, Austria, Slovakia, China, South Korea, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia.

Ortiz has also tried his hand as an author. Since 1995, he has contributed to the Ibagué newspaper, El Nuevo Día. Besides, Ortiz has published a number of his own books, including ‘Oscar Rodríguez Naranjo, the painter of beauty’, ‘Neorealism’ in collaboration with Carol Damian, ‘A Brief History of the arts in the territory of Tolima’, and ‘A novel painted’.

In 2003, Dario Ortiz founded the Museo de Arte del Tolima (Tolima Museum of Art) in Ibagué and has headed it ever since.

Nowadays, Ortiz shares his time between Madrid and Mexico City.

Achievements

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  Dario Ortiz is an internationally recognized artist who is considered as one of the pre-eminent representatives of the Renaissance of the contemporary narrative art in Latin America.
  
  Ortiz has been a laureate of such art events as the XI Florence Biennale, the International Biennial in Bogotá, and others. His artworks are included in the collections of the Museum of Latin American Art, Los Angeles, the Presidential Palace of Bratislava in Slovakia, the Abano Terme Art Museum, Italy, the Museum of Antioquia, Medellín, the Museum of Modern Art in Cuenca, Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo (Anthropology and Contemporary Art Museum) in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Bogotá.
  
  In 2002, a post-stamp featuring one of Ortiz’s famous paintings was issued on Christmas in Colombia.
  
  Besides, Dario Ortiz has published seven books, many essays, and articles on Colombian art.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Fabula de los Hermanos

  • El Juicio de Paris

  • Melancolia

  • El Chivo Expiatorio

  • La Sesión Incompleta

  • Ensayo para Cuadro Barroco

  • Cardenal

  • Espalda

  • Los Pretendientes

  • Apóstoles de Carne

  • Un Metro Azul

  • Colombiana

  • Clave Italiana y Ultramar Francés

  • La Joven del Bluyin Roto

  • Academia de Dibujo

  • El Corsé Verde

  • Disputa de la trinidad, Variaciones a un tema clasico

  • El Sacrificio

  • The Model

  • El Sueno

  • La Anunciacion

  • La Edad Dorada

  • Sueno en Azul

  • The Three Graces

Membership

Dario Ortiz is a member of the Academy of History of the Tolima since 2007.

• Academy of History of the Tolima , Colombia

  2007 - present

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• "His paintings are complex interplays of forms in space that document an emotional as well as a physical process and are as disturbing as they are convincing in their reality." Carol Damian, art critic
  
  "It would be possible to be said that the painting of Ortiz is baroque of the contemporary time, constituted by the greatness, and of a powerful subject, in addition dramatic to an hidden tone, harmonizing with the privacy and the audacity a traditional interpretation to the contemporary. The dandyism to Hollywood and modus solid classic that is reflected in her, I do not believe that it is possible to create it in this nation." Yoshiharu Sasaki, Iwaki City Art Museum Assistant Director

Connections

Darío Ortiz is married and has a daughter.