Upcoming Solo Exhibition

Solo Exhibition at the Xerión Art Gallery, in the city of A Coruña, Galicia

Trajectory in Fine Art Painting

He learned to paint in Madrid as a child, but it was in his youth, in 1990, while living in the United States, that he realized he could only be a painter and that this was the meaning of his life. After years of dedication and perfecting his drawing, especially imaginative drawing, he specialized in the technique of watercolor, and in 2010, he created his own language, a personal style that allowed him to create without limits, to experiment, and at the same time, to establish his path in art. Since then, he has held 38 solo exhibitions and participated in nearly 100 group shows. He has exhibited in prestigious galleries both within and outside of Spain, in cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, León, Pamplona, Toledo, Zamora, and A Coruña, as well as in countries like Italy, the Netherlands, and France. His work is included in collections in the United States, Belgium, Italy, France, Canada, and Mexico, among others. He has been represented by several galleries, including Galería Herraiz in Madrid for 10 years and Grup D’art Escolá in Barcelona for 6 years.

He has been selected seven times for the Reina Sofía Prize and ten consecutive times for the Autumn Salon of the AEPE, where he has won five awards. He has also won other major prizes, such as Anthology Magazine in Ireland and the first prize for watercolor at Artemisia.

Javier Ortas doesn’t interpret what he sees; he creates his works using his imagination, without any model. He works alone in front of the blank canvas, with no reference other than his own artistic impulse, inventing and creating scenes, characters, and elements from his inner world.

The themes of his work are varied, sometimes reflecting everyday life, landscape, animals, or nature, and history.

He believes that quality is essential in imaginative work: composition, framing, depth, color balance, movement, or the precision of the line. Each piece must be complete, and attention to every detail is important.

The result is a personal, pure, defined, and innovative style, with a unique language of lines that create distances, shadows, volumes, spaces, perspective, dynamism, or calm—even emotions.

“Painting is what allows me to give the most to others and to myself.”

Solo exhibitions

  • 2024 - Galería d'art Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2024 - Galería de Arte Espacio 36. Zamora.
  • 2024 - Galería de Arte Herraiz. Madrid.
  • 2022 - Galería de Arte Sánchez y Juan. Elche.
  • 2022 - Galería de Arte Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2022 - Galería de Arte Herraiz. Madrid.
  • 2021 - Galería Sala de Arte Bernesga. León.
  • 2020 - Galería Espacio 36. Zamora.
  • 2020 - Galería d'art Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2020 - Galería Michel Menéndez, Pamplona.
  • 2019 - Galería Herraiz. Madrid.
  • 2019 - Galería Arimany, Tarragona, Catalonia.
  • 2019 - Galería Terraferma. Lleida, Catalonia.
  • 2019 - Galería Pizarro. Valencia, Spain.
  • 2019 - Galería Bernesga. León, Spain.
  • 2019 - Galería Visol. Ourense, Galicia.
  • 2019 - CEART. Contemporary art center. Madrid.
  • 2018 - Barajas International Airport. Madrid.
  • 2018 - Art Gallery Le Manoir de Villedoin, Velles, France.
  • 2018 - Art Gallery ESTE, Santander, Spain.
  • 2018 - Biblioteca de la Cominidad de Madrid Manuel Alvar.
  • 2017 - Galería Herráiz, Madrid.
  • 2017 - Galería Michel Menéndez, Pamplona.
  • 2017 - Sala de Exposiciones del Ayuntamiento de Navacerrada, Madrid.
  • 2015 - Galería de Arte Sánchez y Juan. Elche, Alicante.
  • 2015 - Galería Este, Santander.
  • 2015 - Centro Sociocultural Moratalaz, Madrid.
  • 2015 - Espacio Cultural Volturno, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid.
  • 2014 - Galería Botica del Arte, A Coruña.
  • 2014 - Galería Herráiz, Madrid.
  • 2013 - Centro Cultural Ciudad Pegaso, Madrid.
  • 2013 - Centro Riojano de Madrid.
  • 2013 - Casa de Cultura de Collado Villalba, Madrid.
  • 2013 - Sala Prado 19. Ateneo de Madrid.
  • 2013 - Casa de la Cultura de Navacerrada, Madrid.
  • 2012 - Club Financiero Génova. Centro Colón, Madrid.
  • 2012 - Galería de Arte Maes, Madrid.

Awards and juried exhibitions

  • 2024 - First Place - Anthology Cover Art Competition 2023. Ireland
  • 9 - Shortlist Salón de Otoño. AEPE. Madrid. Editions: 82,83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90.
    The most important exhibition of the Spanish Association of Painters and Sculptors
  • 7 - Shorlist Premio Reina Sofía. Madrid. Editions: 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58.
  • 2022 - Premios Ciudad de Alcalá 2021. Alcalá Visual 2022 en Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.
  • 2020 - Premio Agrupación Española de Acuarelistas. Spanish association of watercolorists.
  • 2019 - Cartel del 86 Salón de Otoño. Spanish association of painters and sculptors.
  • 2017 - Watercolor medal, 84 Salón de Otoño.-Spanish association of painters and sculptors- AEPE
  • 2016 - Art Award. Premio Sala Baluarte.
  • 2016 - First Place. Watercolor award. I Certamen Artemisia. Madrid
  • 2016 - Finalist International Emerging Artist Award Dubai, Dubai.
  • 2016 - Finalist National Award. Ciudad de Alcalá. Spain.

Some group samples

  • 2023 - 90 Salón de Otoño. AEPE. Casa de Vacas, Madrid.
  • 2023 - Colectiva Inicio de temporada. Galería Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2023 - AEPE.Centro Cultural Nicolás Salmerón. Madrid.
  • 2023 - Art in the Summer Time. Espacio 36. Zamora.
  • 2023 - Torre del Rey. Oropesa del Mar
  • 2022 - Sala de Arte Bernesga, León
  • 2022 - Colectiva XXV aniversario de la Galería Visol. Orense.
  • 2022 - Colectiva Petit format. Galería Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2021 - VI Certámen Nacional de Pintura Pozuelo de Alarcón. Espacio Mira. Madrid.
  • 2021 - 88 Salón de Otoño. Casa de Vacas, Madrid.
  • 2021 - Dos artistas: Lopez - Ortas. Galería Sánchez y Juan. Elche, Alicante.
  • 2021 - 56 Premio Reina Sofía: Casa de Vacas del Parque del Retiro, Madrid.
  • 2021 - Presentación Temporada 2021-2022. Galería d'Art Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2021 - Colectiva Reencuentros. Galería Ana Rubio. Oropesa del Mar. Castellón.
  • 2021 - Art in the Summer Time. Galería Ángel Almeida/ Espacio 36. Zamora.
  • 2021 - Colectiva Fin de Temporada. Galería Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2021 - Galería Michel Menendez. Pamplona.
  • 2021 - Galería Pizarro. Valencia.
  • 2021 - Galería D'Art Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2020 - Galería Visol. Galicia.
  • 2020 - Two artist. Buratti - Ortas. Galería Sánchez y Juan. Elche, Alicante.
  • 2020 - National award 55 Premio Reina Sofía de Pintura y Escultura. Madrid.
  • 2020 - Alcalá Visual. Alcalá de Henares.
  • 2019 - Petit Format. Galería D'Art Mar. Barcelona.
  • 2019 - 86 Salón de Otoño, Casa de Vacas del Retiro, Madrid
  • 2019 - "Inicio de temporada" Galería Mar, Barcelona.
  • 2019 - Padequart. Girona
  • 2019 - Exposición de Verano. Galería Visol, Ourense.
  • 2019 - Galería de arte Ana Rubio. Oropesa del Mar.
  • 2019 - 4º Certamen Nacional de Pozuelo de Alarcón. Espacio Mira. Madrid.
  • 2019 - "Fin de temporada" Galería Mar. Barcelona, Catalonia.
  • 2019 - "Fin de temporada" Galería Arimany, Tarragona, Catalonia.
  • 2019 - "Fin de temporada" Galería Terraferma. Lleida, Catalonia.
  • 2019 - "Fin de primavera" Sala de Arte Bernesga. León.
  • 2019 - "Nocturno". Centro San Clemente. Toledo.
  • 2019 - Short-listed for the national award 54 Premio Reina Sofía de Pintura y Escultura. Madrid.
  • 2018 - Short-listed for the national award 85 Salón de Otoño AEPE. Exhibition Casa de Vacas, Madrid.
  • 2018 - Montilla and Ortas. Art Gallery Sanchez y Juan, Alicante, Spain.
  • 2018 - Ana Rubio Art Gallery, Oropesa, Castellón.
  • 2018 - "53 Premio Reina Sofía". Selected work in 53 Queen Sofia Prize for Painting and Sculpture. Madrid
  • 2018 - El Claustre Art Gallery, "5 of 10", Girona.
  • 2018 - Gallery of Art Espacio 36, Zamora.
  • 2018 - "Cerámica de autor". Sede Afundación Vigo by Obra Social ABANCA. Organized by Fundación MAPAX. Vigo, Galicia
  • 2018 - Alcalá Visual 2018. Work selected at the Ciudad de Alcalá Awards. Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.
  • 2018 - "El Desnudo es Arte". Galería de arte Michel Menéndez. Pamplona.
  • 2017 - Show dedicated to the winners of the prize "Premio Baluarte 2016" Sala Baluarte, Madrid.
  • 2017 - El Claustre Art Gallery, Christmas exhibition, Girona and Figueres.
  • 2017 - Watercolor medal of the Asociación Española de Pintores y Escultores in 84 Salón de Otoño. Exhibition Casa de Vacas, Madrid.
  • 2017 - Short-listed in II Salón de Dibujo de la Asociación Española de Pintores y Escultores, Madrid.
  • 2017 - Short-listed in II Salón de Arte Realista de la AEPE. C.C. La Vaguada, Madrid.
  • 2017 - Short-listed in II Certamen Nacional de Pintura de Pozuelo de Alarcón. C.C. MIRA, Madrid.
  • 2017 - Galería Ana Rubio, Oropesa del Mar, Castellón.
  • 2017 - Sala de Arte Bernesga, León.
  • 2017 - European Makers Gallery, Ámsterdam.
  • 2017 - Galería de Arte Sánchez y Juan: Montilla / Narkevich / Ortas, Elche, Alicante.
  • 2017 - Galería Botica del Arte. I Encuentro Arte-Cerámica MAPAX, A Coruña.
  • 2016 - Watercolor Prize in I Certamen de Pintura Artemisia, Madrid.
  • 2016 - Prize Baluarte en el 83 Salón de Otoño. Exhibition in the Casa de Vacas, Madrid.
  • 2016 - Short-listed for the national prize of plastic arts Miguel González Sandoval. Lora del Río, Sevilla.
  • 2016 - Short-listed for the national drawing prize "Antonio del Rincón, Guadalajara.
  • 2016 - Galería de Arte Ana Rubio, Oropesa del Mar, Castellón.
  • 2016 - Short-listed for the national award 51 Premio Reina Sofía de Pintura y Escultura Casa de Vacas del Retiro. Madrid.
  • 2016 - Galería de Arte Sánchez y Juan. Elche, Alicante.
  • 2015 - Short-listed for the national award 82 Salón de Otoño AEPE. Exhibition Casa de Vacas, Madrid.
  • 2015 - Galería Conde de Rodezno, Pamplona.
  • 2015 - Galería de arte Sánchez y Juan "San Felices, Casanova y Ortas". Elche, Alicante.
  • 2015 - La Casa del Reloj, Madrid.

Publishing and media

  • La Opinión de Zamora. About Zamora solo exhibition.
  • Diario de Navarra. Spread page "Líneas y colores hacen crecer el universo creativo de Javier Ortas"
  • Europa Press. About Madrid solo exhibition - Barajas International Airport
  • Newspaper La Vanguardia
  • PGM Art World. Editor. Munich, Germany.
  • Mistletoe House. Art cards Editor. UK.
  • Television news. Telediario TVE1 Solo exhibition Santander.
  • News in Cadena Ser: “The winners of the Sala Baluarte Prize are exhibited in Tres Cantos”.
  • Radio Internacional. Invited to the radio show "Por amor al arte".
  • Radio Villalba. Interview on the radio show "Breogán".
  • Report in the newspaper “Diario de Navarra”. Solo exhibition Pamplona.
  • Report in the newspaper “La Región”. "An inner world full of color".
  • Report - newspaper “Noticias de Navarra”. Spread page “The colorful art of Javier Ortas arrives at the Gallery...”.
  • Magazine Apuntes de la Sierra. Report “Scenes from everyday life” may 2017.
  • Newspaper “Información”, Alicante. News about solo exhibition at Galería Sánchez y Juan.
  • Cover of the Mexican novel “Canasta de comadres” by Mónica Castellanos.
  • Revistart. News about exhibitions in various issues of the magazine.
  • Revista Galart. News about exhibitions in various issues of the magazine.
  • Magazine Club Financiero Génova.