Heriberto Montoya-Ortiz

Was born in Lota, an attractive mining and fishing village by the Pacific seashore, in Chile, on March 12th 1963. Heriberto’s father was a painter and he moved with him to Santiago where his father introduced him to Sergio Vargas Quesada a friend of his. When Quesada discovered Heriberto’s capabilities, he encouraged him to paint the different places of his country. His father then introduced Heriberto to another colleague, Hungarian painter Ladislao Cheney.

Heriberto studied with them and then joined other plain air artists and formed the group "Lautaro". The group made their first exhibition in "La Casa del Corregidor" Museum, Santiago de Chile. He had his first individual exhibition in the Toulouse Gallery of Las Condes, Santiago.

At the end of the 1980’s he decided to move to Argentina, and had an exhibition in the Praxis Gallery in Mendoza. He then relocated south of Buenos Aires, in Guernica. He contacted a group of Argentinean painters and started to work with them in different areas of Buenos Aires.

He soon became a well know artist in the Buenos Aires art world thanks to his original brush strokes and brilliant colors that are part of his unique style.

In his own words, it’s important the "plain air" experience, having the subject in front of his eyes allows him to achieve a fresher, more vivid image.

His approach to art is simple but not simplistic, following his own path, the same that romantics and impressionists did in the past, he tries not to succumb to more fashionable styles.

His paintings are genuine, they come from his heart, every one of them is a feeling for him and for the viewer. He has the ability to transmit warmth.