Sharks Eat Meat: TONY ORTEGA

TONY ORTEGA

Tony Ortega is a staple of the Colorado art community. A teacher and artist for over 30 years his socially conscious murals, paintings and drawings enliven Denver’s streets and walls. His works have all of the social dialogue of a Diego Rivera with the wild expressionism of a Gauguin.

His paintings tell the stories of migrant workers and families. Scenes of schools, farms, streets and residences are given a personal view that is often neglected or ignored. Bright colors celebrate the subjects in an earnest manner. Paint and pastels are treated similarly but the forms in his paintings are stronger and more solid. Expressive colors exaggerate personal emotions in his social scenes. Ortega emphasizes an individual and social responsibility throughout his works. Many of the figures are faceless, allowing the viewer to relate to the anonymous character in scenes where everyday life is combined with magic realism.

Ortega eloquently expands upon the Chicano experience while staying true to its traditions. Everyone likes Latino food, but it’s time people experienced more Latino art and music. Look for Tony Ortega’s murals around Denver, follow him online, and look for more of his work here @sharks_eat_meat .

Review by John Coulter