photo cred ~ andarsawyers.com
STATEMENT
I paint out of necessity. I am the byproduct of a close-knit family filled with creative types from architects and carpenters to designers and professional artists. I learned by doing.
My art is rooted in the personal experience of becoming an immigrant. Being forever between two cultures has shaped my views and continues to mold the themes of my work. I often lean towards creating portraits of people who defy the odds, lead a peripatetic lifestyle, or were change makers past & present. Other influences stem from my immense love for folk art, my allyship in celebrating women, and advocating for immigrant & refugee groups. A community’s artisan trade and history are other subjects that I really enjoy learning about; which also informs my own practice.
PROCESS
My work is often full of color and a direct product of my expressed energy. For canvas pieces, I don’t sketch or pre-draw. I work solely from in-the-moment energy and transfer what I see and feel to the canvas. The urgency I feel and the pace with which I create leads to an organic trait of rawness in my work.
BIO
Nico Amortegui is a NC-based artist that was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. He has lived and worked in the United States since the late 90s. Known for large-scale paintings and installations, his mural and sculpture works can be found in numerous cities throughout NC as well as Atlanta, DC, and Tel Aviv. Nico has completed 12 solo shows in four states since 2012 and 50+ group shows throughout the East Coast. He enjoys creating with found objects, spending time in his ceramics studio, and caring for his elaborate garden. Nico lives in Charlotte with his wife, two daughters, and studio companion - a chocolate Lab.