Leo Orta France, b. 1993

Born in 1993 in Paris, Leo Orta is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice traverses sculpture, installation, painting, and performance. A graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven (2019), Orta’s work explores the existential and emotional bonds humans form within their communities and environments, alongside a critical engagement with material cycles and ecological concerns.

Drawing inspiration from psychoanalysis and surrealism, Orta’s work reflects the subconscious and imaginary, channeling emotional expression through forms reminiscent of artists like Henry Moore and Niki de Saint Phalle, while also responding to contemporary influences such as David Altmejd’s material transformations and Phyllida Barlow’s repurposed sculptural language. His ongoing interest in industrial processes and factory production informs a critical dialogue on cycles of use, waste, and sustainability, advocating for repurposing and upcycling as creative strategies.

Orta’s sculptures and installations often incorporate recycled and readily available materials, invoking organic aesthetics and reflecting on the fragility and rapid disappearance of biodiversity. His artistic approach blurs the boundaries between art and design, addressing themes of transformation, hybridity, and the interplay between economic and ecological systems.

Currently based in Les Moulins, Seine-et-Marne, France, Orta has exhibited internationally, including shows at the Functional Art Gallery in Berlin (2019), Friedman Benda in New York (2022), Sohe Gallery in Beijing (2023), and participation in fairs such as Frieze London and Design Miami/Basel. His work is part of notable collections including the National Museum of Modern Art–Centre for Industrial Creation.

Through his practice, Leo Orta invites reflection on the ways humans create, connect, and impact their environments, pushing for a reconsideration of sustainability and emotional belonging in contemporary society.