Ricardo Fernandez Ortega was born in 1971 in Durango, Mexico. His surreal paintings invite us to travel to another time, reminding us of the greatest classical masters while still feeling modern. His style is influenced by 17th-century Spanish painters like Diego Velazquez.
His intuitive use of chiaroscuro, the play of light and dark, takes us into mysterious, surreal spaces. His paintings often feature women wearing elegant armor and extravagant headdresses, existing in empty terrains while participating in dream-like activities. His work blends classical techniques with magical realism.
His work features female figures surrounded by birds in flight or sprouting wings to drift through calm night skies. Symbols like wings, animals, and incandescent objects represent internal qualities such as freedom, goodness, and intelligence. His magical realism is open to the viewer’s interpretation.
“I would like my paintings to help people understand themselves and each other. I’m looking for connections between the subconscious and the realistic events that build our life.”
In his solo exhibition “Overflight,” he encourages a lofty perspective while representing dream-like imaginings and innermost desires. In “Journey Partner,” a female figure crouches by a resting horse with a white flag hovering above her head. The flag represents peace and is within their reach if they choose to stand up.
He tries to come close to realism to achieve a specific visual purpose that connects to both the viewer and himself. He wants the viewer’s mind to respond to his work in a way similar to photorealist painting, but he aims to achieve something quite different. His work continues the legacy of the old Spanish masters while feeling contemporary.
Q: What defines Ricardo Fernandez Ortega’s artistic style?
A: His unique blend of 17th-century Spanish techniques, such as chiaroscuro, with contemporary magical realism. His work features dominant feminine subjects, symbols of freedom and intelligence, and dream-like atmospheres. He aims to connect the subconscious with realistic events, helping viewers understand themselves and each other through his art.