Vicente Ortiz Cortez

Texas/Lot Number 02

Looped video, silent

"From 'Presale of the Falling States of America,' a series in which each piece addresses social issues linked to capitalism, and how they are leading to the decline of the U.S., this piece, 'Texas/Lot Number 02,’ makes use of the wire coat hanger to reference abortion rights, which could be severely limited nationally.

Conscious about my role as an artist in tumultuous times, I seek to give shared concerns physical form, creating a platform for dialogue. This is especially the case as a queer immigrant of color. By making and exhibiting my work in typical art world settings, which are historically Eurocentric, I hope to help correct the narrative around marginalized communities.”

— Vicente Ortiz Cortez

About the artist

Vicente Ortiz Cortez

Vicente Ortiz Cortez (b. 1992, Guanajuato, Mexico) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of art, life, and politics. He has exhibited internationally, including exhibitions at The Beach Museum (solo) in Alagoas, Brazil, the National Liberty Museum and City Hall in Philadelphia, PA, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, NE, the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and Superlative Gallery in Bali, Indonesia. He is a recipient of several grants and awards, including a grant from the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, and the Michelle Angela Ortiz Curatorial Fellowship. From 2021 to 2022, Vicente was a Social Justice and Activism Artist-in-Residence at Silver Art Projects in the World Trade Center, New York City.

His work can be found in the collections of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in New York City, The Beach Museum in Alagoas, Brazil, the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia, PA, and El Minia University in Minya, Egypt. His work has been juried by curators from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), and has appeared on Visit Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Broad Street Review. Vicente received a BFA from The Pennsylvania State University, and also attended Studio Arts College International (SACI) in Florence, Italy. Engaged in art organizations, he developed and served as president of the Penn State School of Visual Arts Alumni Board (2021-2022).