Octavio Ocampo

Every person has feelings. These feelings are aroused by a catalyst. A touch, a smell, a sight. When a person does art, his or her duty is to titillate the viewer. His or her work must be passionate, captivating and able to be thought about. When an artist renders a piece, be it a painting, water color, sculpture, dance or poem, he or she must inspire the viewer to come back and look at it a second and a third time. The artist must expand his or her mind to engulf others. Octavio Ocampo has accomplished all this and more. Around the world millions of people have become enthralled with his innovative style. People are fascinated by his work. Everyone from the art connoisseur to businessmen and professionals are thrilled by the reactions they get when one of his pieces is on their walls. His works are "conversation pieces" done in a style which has been deemed Metamorphic art. Pictured here is Lupe.

Metamorphic art is a new innovative style which blends Dali like surrealism with landscape realism. Each picture is a complete landscape in of itself. This technique "superimposes and juxtaposes realistic and figurative" details within images he creates. Only upon closer scrutiny do you actually realize that each facet of the work is something else. In Metamorphic art flowers become faces. Mourners over coffins become the face of Christ, a bicycle becomes a pair of celebrity glasses. His works are full of symbolism. Each is endlessly fascinating, revealing something different to each new viewer. And each new viewer looks a second time, and a third. The longer a person stares at a painting, the more one sees. Faces come into focus at a distance and "metamorphose" into something entirely different under close observation.

His works are included in major collections in Mexico, The national Palace, and in the private collections of the last three presidents. In Europe, the late Florence

Gould had a landscape of the New York skyline from her apartment, at her house at Cap D'Antibes. HM, the king of Spain, is also an admirer of Ocampo's work. Octavio is admired for his ingenuity and uniqueness from other modern artists. He is known mainly throughout the North American art scene. Aside from doing work on canvas, his works include murals in public buildings in Mexico and commissioned portraits of Jane Fonda, Cher, Cecar Chavez and Jimmy Carter.

Octavio Ocampo's talents are not just limited to oil painting, though it is his favorite medium. He also sculpts, acts and dances. He studied all three of these disciplines while enrolled in the institute in San Francisco. He pursued a career in both film and theater until 1976 when he devoted himself solely to art

Ocampo was born On February 28, 1943 in Celaya, a village located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Guanajuato is a city where Mexican art and culture can be explored and discovered. The state itself is located in the central part of Mexico, between Jalisco

and Michoacan. Celaya, as well as Leon and San Miguel de Allende are know for their beautiful landscape and exquisiteness of the merchandise sold there. Guanajuato has a climate averaging 65.5 degrees Fahrenheit and lays about 2000 meters above seal level on the plateau. Its name comes from the Tarascan dialect which means "Place of Frogs."

Another well known Latin American artist finds his roots in Guanajuato, Mexico. Diego Rivera grew up in Celaya as well. Rivera (1886-1957) is one of the most renowned Latin American artists. He is known for his murals. His deeds include the founding of the Mexican Muralist Movement with Jose Clement Orozco and David Siqueiros. They painted their first mural at the Anfiteatro Bolivar at the National Predatory School in Mexico City. Rivera also painted numerous murals in Mexico City and the United States, including those in the Palacio Nacional, Ministerio de Educacion Publica, the San Francisco Stock Exchange, Detroit's Institute of Fine Arts and the Rockefeller Center. The last being destroyed due to controversy surrounding a portrait of Lenin.

As well as being considered Mexico's leading muralist, Rivera also produced many sketches, watercolors and paintings. Diego Rivera was considered a genius in the

intellectual and artistic fields. artistic achievements were monumental. His intellectual and artistic genius allowed him to product first-rate Symbolist paintings while he was in Spain, Cubist works while in France as well as Cezannesque and Ingresque paintings during his final years in Paris.

In 1921 Rivera returned to Mexico and began searching for his interpretation of a "pure" Mexican art form. He abandoned the classical teachings he

received and created his "popular style" images. He painted daily tasks: Peasants grinding corn, burden bearers, flower carriers, and dancers were among favorite themes which he painted. His work reflected great pride in his country and its peoples.

Octavio Ocampo shared many characteristics with Diego Rivera. He has found a new style of painting, abandoning many classical techniques. He has also been inspired by his home city. His talents are also not just limited to oil painting, though it is his favorite medium. He also sculpts, acts and dances. Ocampo has studied all three of these disciplines while enrolled in the institute in San Francisco. He has attended two major art academies, the fine art institute in Mexico city, and the San Francisco Art institute. Although he graduated from his educational career in 1974, he has had his work on exhibit since 1972. Since then he has pursued a career in both film and theater. In 1976 he abandoned those genres and devoted himself solely to art.

Ocampo now works and resides in Tepoztlan, a city north of Mexico city. His home is considered one of the most magical places on earth. He also frequently travels to Sedona, Arizona to view the majestic red rock cliffs.

Besides doing celebrity portraits he also has a wide collection of religious works. these include everything from the face of the Virgin Mother to the face of Christ. His most famous piece is entitled "calvary." In this piece you see the face of Christ at a distance. When the viewer steps close to the work it metamorphoses into Christ on a cross. His beard turns into crosses on a hillside. His mustache turns into a loincloth. As you look more and more at this piece, more is revealed.

The "Calvary" is a painting of hope. Christ's face is heavy with sorrow as he takes on the sins of the world and makes his incredible sacrifice on the cross. Through the face of suffering we can see the crucifixion which is the sacrifice Christ made for all humanity. The middle left side of the painting depicts the sacrifices made by Christian martyrs. The Scriptures

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