MICHELLE ANGELA ORTIZ
2008 Leeway Transformation Award
2007 Art and Change Grant

Michelle is a visual artist who combines elements of painting, printmaking and drawing in her work. With social change as part of her creative process as well as final product, Michelle strives to present experiences that not only reflect on the past but also trace connections between struggles, triumphs, examinations and changes to the present.

Raised in South Philadelphia, Michelle's work is layered by her experiences as a first-generation, bi-cultural child of a Colombian mother and a Puerto Rican father. From an "outsider status" that she felt she occupied during her childhood, Michelle understands the marginalized experiences of people in the U.S. and in South America. Such histories have shaped her practice as an artist, change maker and teacher in her own life journey.

Focusing on the importance of time and existence as it relates to spirituality and community, Michelle has designed and created over 30 large scale public works in Philadelphia, Fiji, and throughought South America. She is a founding member of a multi-disciplinary Latina artist collective called Las Gallas.  She has also worked with various cultural organizations such as Taller Puertorriqueño, Network Arts, Mural Arts Program, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Art for Change, The Village of Arts and Humanities, Asociacion de Músicos Latino Americanos, The Please Touch Museum, Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas and Fleisher Art Memorial. (Cheryl Tse)

Video produced by: Tina Morton (LTA '06, ACG '05)