The art of Ana Maria Ortiz, also known as Ana Marietta, is grounded in graffiti tactics but goes beyond categorization. Her unique approach is exemplified through the hybrid creatures that inhabit her work. These animals, with exaggerated anthropomorphic features, are used to express Ana’s admiration for the adaptability of fauna and her disappointment in humanity’s disregard for nature. Through her art, Ana seems to be constructing a dystopia, a dark place for the strange yet noble beasts that are unaffected by human presence.

Ana was born in Puerto Rico and has always been drawn to drawing and painting. She studied art at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, but interestingly graduated with a degree in Animal Science. In 2011, she moved to Houston to pursue a career in animal health, but became a full-time artist in 2015. Since 2012, Ana has exhibited her work in various locations such as Mexico, London, and the prestigious Station Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston.

Ana’s surreal compositions depict lurk and somewhat lost spaces where the main characters stand as silent observers. They are full of ambiguity, seeming both eager to communicate and unwilling to make a single gesture. Ana’s experiences in the laboratory and in the open undoubtedly served as inspiration for these characters. Though she employs a variety of painting techniques, from acrylic to watercolorand oil painting, the canvases are always filled with smooth, pastel colors. Even when she paints human figures, her approach remains the same.

Overall, Ana’s work is thought-provoking and evocative, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between humans and nature. Her hybrid creatures serve as a commentary on the complex and often troubled dynamic between the two, and the muted, pastel color palette adds to the sense of melancholy and loss that pervades the art. Despite this, there is a sense of hope and possibility in Ana’s work, as the animals stand as silent yet determined observers, ready to adapt and persevere in the face of adversity.