Christian Ortiz was born in Mexico but has lived in Chicago for most of his life, where he now works as an artist and educator. Ortiz received his BFA in fiber studies and BSED in art education from Northern Illinois University. There he was awarded the USOAR grant for independent research, allowing him to travel to Japan, Spain and France to broaden his understanding of fiber arts. In his work, Ortiz explores the abstraction of the self in contemporary culture and how it has impacted how we connect with one another. He uses fiber processes as a way to engage in acts that create reflection and conversation around the need for value and empathy in our society. As an educator, Ortiz develops curriculum and programming around supporting students’ individual artistic development, which he incorporates into his work with organizations like Marwen and Urban Threads Studios. Ortiz is currently pursuing his MFA in Fiber and Material Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.