ARTIST BIO / STATEMENT
Aldara Ortega, a self taught photographer based in New York City, over a decade ago began experimenting with the underwater world to find an escape from urban life. Her work is a visual journey of self-discovery, freedom and pure expression of the body, mind and heart. It is the result of the transformational experience of being submerged in water, letting go and reconnecting with the raw, liberated, inner self.
Through her underwater portraits of women, she builds an intricate storyline of personal narratives offering the viewer glimpses of her personal search to honor the feminine. She invites you to intimately connect with the work and elicit feelings of strength, liberation, boldness, sensuality, and empowerment.
The spontaneity of her photography is integral and allows each muse and artist to be open to play and experimentation. The interactions are often limited in time, unique in location and with spur of the moment encounters. This, in addition to nature's power, water, weather conditions and natural light, creates the perfect environment to surprise both herself and the viewer alike.
Born in Madrid, Spain, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Centro Superior de Diseño de Moda, Politécnica University of Madrid. After moving to New York in 2010, she began her career as a mix media artist and painter. Her current practice is focused exclusively on underwater photography.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Plunging into an underwater world, I allow the inherent power to take over and start to explore. Submerged, my photography brings this exploration to life focusing on the strength and beauty of feminine energy, celebrating women and their bodies. I invite the viewer to connect with me, be present in the moment, perceive things differently and appreciate light, motion and feeling. “ - Aldara Ortega
Education
Fashion Design Superior Center, Madrid, Spain
Sustainable Agent of Change, University of Colorado System.
Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, The University of Queensland.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021 Dive In, Galerie L'Atelier, New York, NY.
2020 Etérea, Tulum, Mexico.
2014 NH3 Gallery, Liquid Project NY
2013 Casa Mezcal, Liquid Desert, New York, NY
2012 Space 108, Refractions, Miami, FL
Selected Exhibitions
2022 Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Southhampton, NY.
Galerie L'Atelier, Greenwich, CT.
2021 Context - Art Miami, Art Basel Miami, FL.
Galerie L'Atelier, Greenwich, CT.
Art On Paper, New York, NY.
Summer Breeze, New York, NY.
Re-Merge, Bridgehampton, NY.
Art Marker, Bridgehampton, NY.
2019 White Porch Gallery. Miami, FL.
2018 “Displacement: Woman’s Journeys”, Ceres Gallery, New York, NY.
Art Palm Beach, West Palm, FL.
2017 Context Art Miami, Miami, FL. Feria Internacional de Arte y Cultura de Bogotá, BARCÚ, Colombia.
Georges Berges Gallery, New York, NY.
Market Art + Design, Bridgehampton, NY.
Roman Fine Art, East Hampton, NY.
2016 The Flatz Gallery, Breaking Surface, Peekskill, NY.
Art Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
2015 Scope Miami,Florida.
Art Toronto, Canada.
Feria Internacional de Arte y Cultura de Bogotá,BARCU, Colombia.
Affordable Art Fair New York, NY.
Galleria Ca D’Oro, Breaking Surface, New York, New York
Art Hamptons, Hamptons, NY
Index Dubai, International Design Exhibition, United Arab Emirates
2014 Art is Life and Life is Art, New York, NY
What would you rather be?, Group Show, New York, NY
2013 ManHATan/MADhattan, New York, NY
Majestic Creations, Temporary Public Installation, New York, NY
2012 Linus Gallery, Motion, Online Exhibition
Linus Gallery, Bits an Pices, Pasadena, CA
Linus Gallery, Water’s Edge, Pasadena, CA
Location 05, Group Show, New York, NY
MOD’ART International, Shanghai International Fashion Center, Zeal, Shanghai, China
The Boiler Gallery, Annual Wagmag Exhibition, Williamsburg, NY
Lazypoint, Summer Group Show, Amagansett, NY
Quartier Salon, Brooklyn, NY
2009 20 Bond, Group Exhibition, New York, NY
Aldara Ortega, a self taught photographer based in New York City, over a decade ago began experimenting with the underwater world to find an escape from urban life. Her work is a visual journey of self-discovery, freedom and pure expression of the body, mind and heart. It is the result of the transformational experience of being submerged in water, letting go and reconnecting with the raw, liberated, inner self.
Through her underwater portraits of women, she builds an intricate storyline of personal narratives offering the viewer glimpses of her personal search to honor the feminine. She invites you to intimately connect with the work and elicit feelings of strength, liberation, boldness, sensuality, and empowerment.
The spontaneity of her photography is integral and allows each muse and artist to be open to play and experimentation. The interactions are often limited in time, unique in location and with spur of the moment encounters. This, in addition to nature's power, water, weather conditions and natural light, creates the perfect environment to surprise both herself and the viewer alike.
Born in Madrid, Spain, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Centro Superior de Diseño de Moda, Politécnica University of Madrid. After moving to New York in 2010, she began her career as a mix media artist and painter. Her current practice is focused exclusively on underwater photography.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Plunging into an underwater world, I allow the inherent power to take over and start to explore. Submerged, my photography brings this exploration to life focusing on the strength and beauty of feminine energy, celebrating women and their bodies. I invite the viewer to connect with me, be present in the moment, perceive things differently and appreciate light, motion and feeling. “ - Aldara Ortega
Education
Fashion Design Superior Center, Madrid, Spain
Sustainable Agent of Change, University of Colorado System.
Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, The University of Queensland.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021 Dive In, Galerie L'Atelier, New York, NY.
2020 Etérea, Tulum, Mexico.
2014 NH3 Gallery, Liquid Project NY
2013 Casa Mezcal, Liquid Desert, New York, NY
2012 Space 108, Refractions, Miami, FL
Selected Exhibitions
2022 Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Southhampton, NY.
Galerie L'Atelier, Greenwich, CT.
2021 Context - Art Miami, Art Basel Miami, FL.
Galerie L'Atelier, Greenwich, CT.
Art On Paper, New York, NY.
Summer Breeze, New York, NY.
Re-Merge, Bridgehampton, NY.
Art Marker, Bridgehampton, NY.
2019 White Porch Gallery. Miami, FL.
2018 “Displacement: Woman’s Journeys”, Ceres Gallery, New York, NY.
Art Palm Beach, West Palm, FL.
2017 Context Art Miami, Miami, FL. Feria Internacional de Arte y Cultura de Bogotá, BARCÚ, Colombia.
Georges Berges Gallery, New York, NY.
Market Art + Design, Bridgehampton, NY.
Roman Fine Art, East Hampton, NY.
2016 The Flatz Gallery, Breaking Surface, Peekskill, NY.
Art Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
2015 Scope Miami,Florida.
Art Toronto, Canada.
Feria Internacional de Arte y Cultura de Bogotá,BARCU, Colombia.
Affordable Art Fair New York, NY.
Galleria Ca D’Oro, Breaking Surface, New York, New York
Art Hamptons, Hamptons, NY
Index Dubai, International Design Exhibition, United Arab Emirates
2014 Art is Life and Life is Art, New York, NY
What would you rather be?, Group Show, New York, NY
2013 ManHATan/MADhattan, New York, NY
Majestic Creations, Temporary Public Installation, New York, NY
2012 Linus Gallery, Motion, Online Exhibition
Linus Gallery, Bits an Pices, Pasadena, CA
Linus Gallery, Water’s Edge, Pasadena, CA
Location 05, Group Show, New York, NY
MOD’ART International, Shanghai International Fashion Center, Zeal, Shanghai, China
The Boiler Gallery, Annual Wagmag Exhibition, Williamsburg, NY
Lazypoint, Summer Group Show, Amagansett, NY
Quartier Salon, Brooklyn, NY
2009 20 Bond, Group Exhibition, New York, NY
