Meet Hector Ortega of Ortega Sculpture And Silver Lining Metal Stamps in Central

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hector Ortega.

Hector, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My family has been a huge inspiration; they have shaped me from the inside out. My father’s interest in art and architecture has been embedded deeply in every fiber of my being. At an early age, I would watch my father carefully construct architectural drawings and those drawings intrigued me. I began drawing on everything literally. I realized that through drawing I could visualize and connect materials thing others could not, I could see things from a unique point of view. This led me to explore all facets in the arts, Drawing, Painting, Stone carving, and jewelry making.

Eventually, this led me to Fabricated Steel Sculpture and Jewelry tool Design. My work large-scale work focuses on abstract arc based three-dimensional forms and their relationships, interconnections and constraints among each other. Life’s experiences, life’s constraints and my current environment at hand often inspire the interconnections between each fabricated element of any given work. Steel as a medium has enabled me to translate gentle arcs, rolling waves, tapering geometries and hard angles into forms that once interconnected will evoke a sense of place, calm, order to our environment, and most of all to inspire others to better this world.

I want people to be excited as I am for a project and to be inspired to do more with every opportunity that is given to them. It is my duty to uphold a standard that is inspirational to all.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road at all but I will say this, I am existing exactly as I was designed within in the constraints of this world. There’s always challenges doing things that no one in their right mind would do without some kind of financial reward at the end of your pursuits. I take these challenges and do the best I can, it literally like the “Art Gods” are testing your resolve each time to see how much you want to be an artist. In the end, we have one life to look back upon and I will rest knowing I did my best.

Please tell us about Ortega Sculpture And Silver Lining Metal Stamps.
Ortega Sculpture started from years of independent in the arts, I was fortunate enough in my upbringing to be exposed to sculpture at an early age I didn’t quite understand I then but as I grew older it called to me. My first experiences into sculpture were with stone carving which led me to steel and the rest is living history.

While I was making the transition to steel I did an unpaid apprenticeship with a local Valley Sculptor Michael Anderson. This is when things got serious. I basically watched and was grinding steel for about three years. during this time I learned to fabricate not only sculpture but architectural features for local residents and business owners.

During this time I acquired all the necessary equipment to fabricate larger and larger sculpture pieces each time pushing my limits in design, equipment and materials. Like anything, we as artists evolve and this led me to jewelry tool design in search of projects that I could finish in the day vs months at time. I started making traditional metal stamping tools for myself and that led to making and selling tools for other Metalsmiths here in the USA and all over the world.

I think what I am proud of the most about what I do is knowing that my work stands alone and was made with deep intentions and blind faith to inhabit this world whether its a tiny tool for a faraway friend or a large-scale sculpture, this is what sets me apart from others, there is no one else on this path.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
It would have to be me and my close group of friends skateboarding up and down Central Avenue, the skateboard was an instrumental tool that taught me determination and passion for what you do and wants in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ortegasculpture.com
• Phone: 602-421-2937
• Email: ortegasculpture@yahoo.com
• Instagram: @hman4200 @silverliningmetalstamps

Image Credit:
Emily Antuna

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.