Javier Ortas

A painter working from imagination

Javier Ortas is a contemporary Spanish painter whose primary medium is watercolor. He creates his works entirely from his imagination, without using models or photographs as references. The result is a body of invented scenes and characters with a distinctive, recognizable style.

Career and awards

The artist has held 42 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 100 group exhibitions. His honors include five awards at the Autumn Salon of the Spanish Association of Painters and Sculptors (AEPE), where he was selected for 11 consecutive years, and 20 selections or finalist placements in the AEPE's two leading competitions. He has also received the AEPE Watercolor Medal, two awards from the Spanish Watercolorists Association (AEDA), and a commission to create the poster for the 86th Autumn Salon in 2019. He took part in the Queen Sofía Prize for Painting and Sculpture for nine years.

Recent exhibitions

• Galería de Arte Herraiz, Madrid (2026)
• Galería d'art Mar, Barcelona (2026)
• Monastery of San Clemente, Toledo (2025)
• Galería Xerion, A Coruña (2025)
• Ugallery, San Francisco, United States (online)

Galleries and institutions with works on permanent display

• Galería de Arte Herráiz, Madrid
• Galería de Arte Mar, Barcelona
• Galería Espacio 36, Zamora
• Ugallery, San Francisco, United States
• Galería Xerion, A Coruña
• Madrid City Council
• Museo Mapax, Pontevedra
• Navacerrada City Council, Madrid
• Collado Villalba City Council, Madrid
• Toledo Provincial Council

International exhibitions

He has exhibited in France at Galerie d'art Le Manoir de Villedoin and Galerie Le Cactus Bleu in Centre-Val de Loire, and in Amsterdam at European Makers Gallery. He has also shown painted ceramic pieces from Galicia at the Afundación Vigo venue of Obra Social ABANCA, organized by Fundación MAPAX.