Nico Amortegui

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 11 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.

Statement

I paint out of necessity. I am the byproduct of a close-knit family filled with creative types including architects, carpenters, designers, photographers, and 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 pieces. Other influences stem from my immense love for folk art, my allyship in celebrating women, and advocating for immigrant /refugee groups.

I lean toward creating portraits of people who have defied the odds and were change makers past and present. Illustrating 'snapshots' of a peripatetic lifestyle often takes over my canvases as well. A community’s artisan trade and history are other subjects that I enjoy learning about and painting during my travels.

Process

My work is often full of color and a direct product of my expressed energy. For canvas pieces, I don’t sketch or predraw. 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.

Check out some of Nico’s Other Art