Meme Ortega - Local Artist and Avid Cyclist

Meme Ortega is a Pomona local, avid cyclist, and artist whose past achievements include working at The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, LA County Museum of Arts, and the Cal Poly Downtown Center.

Meme Ortega attended LA County High School for the Arts and has exhibited his work throughout Southern California. Meme uses all forms of media including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.

In recent years he has chosen Micky Mouse as his satirical commentary.  "I wanted to put Micky in situations Disney would never approve of." Take for instance Micky in Drag, in which Micky is wearing lipstick and high heels.  Or CSI Micky, where Micky is the subject a murder investigation.

Nine years ago I met Meme at his Ortega Family New Years Party and it wasn't until four years later, at this annual pool party, that we deciding to go riding.  Like me, Meme equally enjoys riding as well as tinkering with bikes.  More often then not Meme has multiple bike (or art) projects going at once. 

Recently I commissioned Meme to paint me a few pictures.  The first is painting of a picture I took last year in Santa Barbara.  This one is for Jamie's Grandmother who has a number of nautical themed works of art in her house.  I've been wanting to give her something like this for a number of years. 

Link to Boats in Santa Barbara Harbor photo...

Santa Barbara is a special place for Jamie and I.  We love the harbor and enjoy eating at Brophy's.

In the next few days I will post additional peices of bicycle themed paintings Meme did for me.