(B. 1965)
Alexis Portilla’s layered compositions create an expressive sense of depth that is both wholly contemporary and suggestive of the New York School. His meticulous consideration of surface results in vibrating, active planes of color that interact in interesting and unexpected ways. In a process that is equal parts planning and experimentation, he creates colors that are not mixed, but layered, often many times over. Visible passages of these multiple under layers give his work an atmospheric feeling of space. Portilla’s predominately grey palette, with undertones of blue and slate juxtaposed against bright passages of red and yellow, reflects the urban landscape in which he lives and works: “I’ve been living in New York for a long time and it’s natural for an artist to absorb images from the place they see daily.” (1)
Alexis Portilla was born in Mexico City in 1965 and currently lives and works in New York. He holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BFA from Pratt Institute. His work is in
the private and corporate art collections of over 250 individuals and institutions including The New York Public Library, Penn State University, Warner Brothers Records, and Pepsi Co.
Portilla's work has been the subject of several solo exhibitions in New York and New Jersey, as well as a two-person exhibition in Hong Kong. His work has been exhibited in group exhibitions throughout the United States including the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan and at prominent venues in Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York. Portilla’s work has been reviewed in several publications, including ARTNews.
1. Alexis Portilla, quoted in Pat Rogers, “Alexis Portilla’s Layered Color and Circular Forms Create ‘Surface Tension,’” Hamptons Art Hub. 20 December 2014.
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