José Ortiz

José Ortiz is an Afro-Dominican multimedia artist and Art Educator, skilled in Painting, Art History, Curating, Fine Art, and Public Art. His work layers symbols and myths to create possibilities for the connection between all peoples and cultures. He was selected by the MTA: Arts for Transit Project and commissioned for the 183rd Street and Jerome Avenue subway in the Bronx. He and Choreographer Sita Frederick co-founded Areytos Performance Works, a multi-disciplinary performance company that presents contemporary dance-theater rooted in Caribbean traditions and the principles of social justice. An experienced Art Educator and Program Manager with over 20 years of experience in youth development, José has worked for Henry Street Settlement, The Bronx Museum, Anyone Can Fly Foundation, and many other national and international arts organizations. Most recently he worked as Program Manager for Young Artist Initiatives at the Joan Mitchell Foundation, providing mentorship, portfolio development and career exploration programs to participants aged 18 to 26. He is currently the Program Director at Groundswell Mural Arts in Brooklyn, NY. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) focused in Illustration from School of Visual Arts, NYC.