Dionis Ortiz

Migration
Year: 2007
Medium: Acrylic/Giclee Print on Canvas
Dimensions: 5' x 8'

Artist Statement:

“Migration” is a body of work that gives voice to my personal experiences and development as a person of Dominican descent. The work focuses on the migration process that people of color, particularly those from Latin and Carribean countries, have and continue to experience in the United States.

Through my art, I explore my dual identity as a New Yorker from Harlem born to immigrant parents. Harlem, like many other underprivileged communities, is made up of individuals from different countries such as The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Jamaica to name a few. I wanted to make a series of works that merge the similarities of these regions and present a topic that is uncommon, such as identity for second generation individuals whose parents migrated to the United States.

Through “Migration”, I invite people to continue this dialogue about where they come from and what they experienced growing up in their communities.