Miguel Cortez

Painting abstract art allows me to enter a meditative state where I can freely express my creativity without the constraints of representing reality. The process of creating abstract art is like a dance, where my brush strokes flow spontaneously and intuitively. I allow myself to be guided by the paint and the canvas, allowing the composition to unfold organically.

For me, abstract art is not about creating a finished product, but rather about the journey of creation. It is a way for me to tap into my unconscious mind and access a deeper level of creativity. The randomness and unpredictability of the process keeps me engaged and present in the moment, and allows me to let go of any preconceived notions or expectations.

Through the act of painting, I am able to connect with my inner self and find a sense of peace and clarity. It is a meditative and therapeutic practice that allows me to connect with my emotions and express them in a raw and authentic way.

Overall, art is a powerful tool for self-exploration and personal growth. It allows me to let go of the ego and embrace the unknown, and in doing so, I am able to create truly unique and expressive works of art.

• Miguel Cortez

The Emergence of Reality #1

Oil and acrylic on canvas

30" x 30"

Miguel Cortez, 2023

"The Emergence of Reality" is an abstract painting series that explores the blurred lines between dreams and reality. Through the use of bold brushstrokes and a dynamic dark and earthy color palette, this painting evokes a sense of movement and change, representing the fluidity of the mind as it navigates the different states of consciousness.

The layering of different hues and textures within the painting creates a sense of depth and complexity, symbolizing the many layers of the human experience. The painting invites the viewer to consider the ways in which reality is constructed and perceived, and the constant shifting of our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Imaginary Abstract city

Miguel Cortez, 2022

Digital

I recently discovered Midjourney which is an artificial intelligence bot on discord that takes your text descriptions and creates a digital rendition of your suggestions. It renders some very cool stuff, sometimes super realistic, but at times it lacks the human creativity.

I have been using it lately to generate quick abstract layouts. I take a layout and expand/ revise the initial render to create my own. For this piece I drew the flat shapes in Shapr3d program and extruded and manipulated them to be 3d. I then rendered the final layouts in Keyshot and added lighting and fine tuned it in Photoshop.

Transition 1
Oil and acrylic on canvas
20” x 30”
2022

Transition 2
Oil and acrylic on canvas
20” x 30”
2022

Transition 3
Oil and acrylic on canvas
20” x 30”
2022

Transition 4
Oil and acrylic on canvas

20” x 30”
2022

Dream #8
Oil and acrylic on canvas
50” x 44”
2022

Dream #6
oil and acrylic on canvas
50” x 44”
2020

Who is watching you?
surveillance camera, internet web cam feed
Miguel Cortez
2010

“It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself—anything that carried with it the suggestion of abnormality, of having something to hide. In any case, to wear an improper expression on your face… was itself a punishable offense.”
- George Orwell, 1984, Book 1, Chapter 5

Forms of Surveillance have existed for centuries now from the “slave passes” that allowed slave owners to keep track and control the movements of their slaves who more than likely did not know how to read or write. Enslaved people who traveled from one place to another were supposed to carry a pass signed by their owner. Those without such a pass could be arrested, jailed, and detained as a runaway. Yet the slave pass system was sometimes subverted by the rare slaves who could write, such as Frederick Douglass. These literate slaves could create their own passes and might thus gain freedom for themselves and other slaves.

In the 1920s, government surveillance spread to political radicals, especially workers trying to organize union activity. J. Edgar Hoover headed this government surveillance unit which would later become the FBI. As the 20th century advanced, computer technology proved a powerful enhancement to the regime of surveillance. This allowed most devices and databases to be monitored and evaluated, including automobiles, Your car can be tracked by GPS, and your spending habits can be seen by accessing your credit card records. Internet and email are monitored in the workplace and cameras are just about everywhere recording your every move.

This was shown during 18th st. Pilsen Open Studios 2010 @ Cobalt Studio.

Jeevatma Leap
computer print, dimensions variable
Miguel Cortez, 2007

Jeevatma is the concept of the “soul” in the Ayyavazhi religion of South India. I came across this while researching for this series which takes the idea of empathy a step further by trying to imagine our consciousness jumping/leaping from one person to another. Just like accessing information from different computers, how would it feel to enter someone else’s body and have access to their memories, feelings, etc..?

Exist Within Your Timeline #2
Braille engraved plastic sign
Miguel Cortez, 2007

Series statement
I’ve always wondered about humanity’s never ending quest to define existence throughout the ages via religion or philosophy and I started asking myself these questions back in May: Where was I before I was born? We are born on such a year and then die on such a year in linear time. Did our consciousness/soul exist before and will it exist after? Or are we limited to exist just in our designated timeline? From these questions arose this series of artwork.

Everyday observations
Handmade book of digital photos
2005

We all have everyday rituals that shape our lives, especially those of us that work full-time; we wake up at a certain time, shower, brush our teeth, walk, wait for the bus/train, or drive. And after you spend 8 hours a day doing something you may or may not like, then you go home, sleep, wake up and repeat process. This may seem monotonous and boring, but for me, I found inspiration to do the following art series: a digital documentation of shapes, patterns, textures, scenes that I encounter on my way to and from work everyday.
—–mcortez, february 2005

Untitled
Oil and acrylic on canvas
2004

The discussion
Acrylic on canvas
2003

We are a cycle of shit
mixed media on canvas
2003

Waiting
Acrylic on canvas
2002

Magnetism
Oil and acrylic on wood
2002

Hypercube
Acrylic on canvas
2001

A trip to lunacy
acrylic on canvas
2001

Tug of war #1 and 2
Mixed media on canvas
2001

Labyrinth
oil on canvas
2001

Lapsus #4
Acrylic on canvas
1999

Don’t fall behind…
Mixed media on wood
1998

Untitled

acrylic, plaster and oil on canvas, 1996.

I was all into sacred geometry and Sumerian mythology during this time period. The 2 circles intersecting is called the Vesica Piscis and the mid cross section is called the Mandorla, which looks like a vagina, vulva, yoni and represents the power of women. It is the passageway for the soul to cross into the material world.

My hand symbol is a different take on the Hamsa hand which is a middle eastern symbol to protect you against devil spirits. This hand within a hand within a hand symbolizes infinity, kind of when you put two mirrors facing each other and you see the reflections getting smaller infinitely. Infinite protection against evil.

The other symbol at the bottom is Sumerian, which Zecharia Stitchin thought it represented a spaceship. So life is protected from evil and life's origin came from space into earth. And finally the plaster shape is supposed to be a cave wall. The entire painting is supposed to be an ancient cave painting.

I guess that's what I was trying to convey. 1996 was a long time ago dammit.

A few small nips…
mixed media on canvas
1994

The Birth of Lilith
Mixed media on canvas
1993

Burial of the stoned sardine
oil and ink on canvas
1992

Premonition 5
Oil, acrylic and ink on canvas
1990