The Lover, 2020, oil pastels on 19 x 25 paper

We Need One Another

Like a tree in the forest, you were born to be a unique, individual expression and a member of a collective at the same time - creating something larger and more meaningful than the sum of its parts. 

I believe meaning and connection is available to all of us. It can be experienced when we allow ourselves to express ourselves, without apology or self-judgement.
​
Through art and community, I create opportunities to explore the deeper meaning of spirituality, identity, and belonging. When we nurture the seeds of creative expression together, we create a regenerative, cultural eco-system that allows us, you, me and the Universe, to thrive.

Artwork

Where it all began...

At the age of 12, I had a mystical experience with a tree outside the kitchen window on 90th street and Elmhurst. With that experience, something happened that changed me forever.

​

Even now, many years later, I see trees as sacred entities where I find a deep sense of belonging and meaning. They are spiritual beings each with a story to tell. ​That experience of awe, wonder, otherworldly and connectedness with Spirit, is at the center of my art practice. Every time I sit to draw, I enter circular time-space and surrender to its alchemical power.

My curious and sensitive nature led me to diverse career paths, from an Emmy award television producer, to a cultural arts entrepreneur, an event professional, a philanthropy executive, a published creative writer and, pastel artist.

I was born in Santa Clara, Cuba. In 1972, when I was seven years old, my family emigrated to the United States as political refugees. We landed in West New York, NJ and later moved to New York City. With the intent of understanding my Cuban roots, after college I moved to Miami where I spent thirty years immersing myself in palm trees, Cuban music and year-long hot summers. In 2017, I returned to the Big Apple to experience new adventures. Then, after a year of deep meditation and reflection, in 2020 I took the big leap of leaving an executive career in higher education to dedicate myself full-time to my art.

Starting fall 2021, my Doctor in Philosophy (PhD) journey begins in Philosophy and Religion with a concentration in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). I hold an MA in Liberal Arts from Florida International University and a BA in Latin American Literature and Communications from the University of Pennsylvania. I am an associate member of the Pastel Society of America, and a member of Artists of Shelter Island (ARTSI) and the Art Queens Society, Create Magazine. I live in Shelter Island, New York where I take many long, meditative walks amongst my teachers, the trees.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site.

Best,

Ana

READ MORE

Ana Martinez Orizondo - AMO
​Artist Statement

My initials, AMO, stand for "I love" in my native Spanish. I am a Cuban-born Latinx pastel artist, writer, photographer, community builder and artpreneur. 

My body of work is not  culturally specific nor political in the traditional sense. Nevertheless, I am concerned with the spiritual exploration of ecology, or deep ecology, which in itself could be deemed political.  My work explores themes of spirituality as well as identity and culture through landscape, nature and portraiture.  I am fascinated by mystical liminal states of in-betweenness, portals to otherness, and amorphous forms. My art practice is the center of my being in the world, it gives me a sense of oneness with the Universe, of belonging and expansion. 

​The textural play between soft and hard pastels on smooth or ragged, Indian paper adds to the push and pull of my creative process, and its alchemical power. I particularly enjoy working on Indian (shizen) paper because it is 100% made from post consumer waste.


 

 

Contact

Photo credit: Lorin Klaris

CREATIVE CV

EDUCATION
Starting Fall 2021 PhD student, Ecology, Spirituality and Religion, California Institute of Integral Studies
2006 MA in Liberal Arts from Florida International University
1996 BA in Latin American Literature and Communications from the University of Pennsylvania

EXHIBITIONS:
2021, Inner Power, Art Queens, online exhibit
2021 When Words Fail, Visionary Art Collective, online exhibit curated by Grace Langl
2021 Reverie, The Purposeful Mayonnaise, online exhibit
2021 Mujeres, Mujeres, Mujeres, Raices Taller 222, online exhibit
2021 Artists of Shelter Island, Shelter Island Island Historical Society, Shelter Island, N.Y.
2020 Vernissage XIX, group show, Gallery Rivaa, Roosevelt Island, N.Y.
2019 Unexpected, group show, Gallery Rivaa, Roosevelt Island, N.Y. 
2019 Time, group show, Gallery Rivaa, Roosevelt Island, N.Y.

​PUBLICATIONS/VIsual Arts:
2021 The Hopper magazine Issue 6
2021 Artist Talk Magazine Issue 15
2021 Create Magazine Artist Directory
2021 "Ana Martinez finds deep beauty in island life," Around Town, Shelter Island Reporter, Feb 18, 2021, 

WRITING
Poetry:
Earth-Root, Newtown Literary, Issue 15 Winter 2019
La Nada, The Journal of Latina Critical Feminism, Volume 2 Issue 1 March 2019
I am Transparent, From Whispers to Roars Volume 1 Issue 2 2018
Convergence III, Honorable Mention Haiku Contest, Dreamers Creative Writing Magazine,
Issue 1 2018
Sand-painting Silence, Confluence: The Journal of Graduate Liberal Studies, 2007

Short Story:
Apparition on Elmhurst, Newtown Literary, Issue 13 Fall 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY
Stepping Stones, From Whispers to Roars Volume 1 Issue 2 2018
NYC Skyline, Honorable Mention, Fusion Art Juried Show 2018
First Place: Best in Architecture, @VisitTaos @Travel New Mexico Instagram contest/ June 2018

COMMUNITY BUILDING & COACHING
2021 Badass Art Queens panelist, online talk, Art Queens
Dream Retreat Spring 2021,  thirteen weekly online session for clients who want guidance, clarity and accountability in regards to their dreams and goals.  
One on One coaching - Context, clarity and strategy. 
Walk & Talk brainstorming sessions- Find your way forward as we walk & talk in nature.

MEMBERSHIP: 
Southhampton Arts Guild
Associate Member: Pastel Society of America
Artists of Shelter Island: ARTSI
Art Queens : Create Magazine