Felipe Ortiz makes a splash with his show Explosive Nature.  With bursts of color that erupt into figures - often on darker gradient backgrounds that amplify depth perception - Ortiz brings wildlife from his native Colombia to Massachusetts.  Explosive Nature can be loosely described as his version of action-painting, which melds energetic painting with precision detail. Ortiz's detailed figures emerge from their backgrounds and express the rich biodiversity of flora and fauna in Colombia, Boston, Cape Cod and beyond. His thematic concepts merge elements of species migration, adaptation, and environmental concerns. He adapted this concept of studio work into public art in the form of murals that appear publicly throughout the U.S. and internationally to share his messages of connection and hope. This exhibition features a collection of medium to large paintings done over five years, and the show is supplemented by projections of the artist's public murals. Limited archival quality prints will be available as well.

This is Felipe's first show in Newburyport, MA.  Ortiz has led and participated in artist visits and workshops at the Provincetown Arts Association and Museum and group exhibitions at Longstreet Gallery. He has been in residence at the Lechay studio in Wellfleet and the Rugosa Artist Residency in Eastham. Exhibitions include PAAM, Fuller Craft Museum, Punto Urban Art Museum and the corporate loan program at DeCordova Museum. His installations have been featured in the Knight Foundation's Horizontes project, Northeastern University public art collection, Fundacion Culata's Muro al barrio, and the Ministry of Culture in Cali, Colombia.