Will Ortega

Artist Statement

My work examines an original fictional civilization through its
ritual ceramic artifacts. I explored how pattern and ornamentation can
create a cohesive visual language within my world's art. By researching
ancient Jomon ceramics and Pre-Columbian designs, such as ocarinas, I
developed Ideas for functional objects that represented my world-building in
visually distinctive ways. I’m also influenced by how the bio-mechanical style of H.R.
Giger's work created a signature aesthetic, which I sought in my own work.
With this in mind, I create ceramics that would fit in ritual settings.