In When It’s Time to Leave, Renzo Ortega exhibits works from “The Southern Series,” a painting project that he has been working on since he relocated to Carrboro, North Carolina from New York in the fall of 2016. This series represents the issues that families are confronting, such a displacement, economic crisis and health, and the hopeful efforts to improve their quality of life. Ortega paints this series because his journey is similar to the experience of many people that came to this country. Ortega believes that being an active community member makes him part part of the country’s economy and culture. For this reason, as an immigrant Peruvian artist working in the United States, Ortega wants to continue with the legacy of the The Works Progress Administration (WPA) artists that, during The Great Depression, expressed in their work the life of the people of America.

About the Artist

Renzo Ortega is an artist from Lima, Perú, based in Carrboro, North Carolina. Renzo received a BFA in painting from the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes del Perú (1999), studied at the Art Students League of New York (2000-04) and has his MFA in painting from Hunter College (2014). His artwork has been exhibited in solo and group shows in the United States and Perú. His recent solo exhibitions have been at The Power Plant Gallery at Duke University (February 2019), and at The John and June Allcott Gallery at UNC Chapel Hill (January 2018). Renzo’s artwork has been exhibited in museums such as the Works on Paper: 2017 Exhibition at The Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro, in the S-Files Biennial (El Museo, NY 2007) and Queens International Biennial (Queens Museum 2006). He is a recipient of the 2018-2019 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award.
More info: renzoortega.com