Juan Ortí

Juan Ortí (b. 1974) is a Spanish ceramic artist based in Torrent, Valencia. He studied ceramics at the School of Arts and Crafts in Valencia (1997–2001) and pursued further studies through a scholarship at the University of Rovaniemi, Finland, in 2000.

Juan Ortí has received several awards throughout his career, including the 1st Prize at the 14th Ceramic Biennial Angelina Alós in Barcelona (2006), the 3rd Prize at the International Ceramic Competition of L’Alcora, Spain (2014), the 3rd Prize at the International Ceramic Biennial El Vendrell in Barcelona (2015), an Artist Residency Award at Blanc de Chine in Dehua, China (2019), and the 1st Prize at the International Ceramics Biennial of Manises, Spain (2024).

He has held solo exhibitions in Spain, Belgium, and Finland and participated in numerous group exhibitions worldwide. His works are part of prestigious collections, including the Keramikmuseum Gmunden in Austria; the FLICAM Museum in Fuping, China; Magnelli Museum in Vallauris, France; the Irish State Art Collection, Ireland; Piramidón Centre d’Art Contemporani in Barcelona, Spain, and Museum Neunkirchen in Germany, among others.

Alongside his artistic practice, Juan Ortí teaches specialized ceramics courses in Spain and internationally. From 2013 to 2023, he was a member of the International Academy of Ceramics.

Visit Juan Ortí’s Instagram page.

Featured work

Selected works, 2012-2023

Juan Orti ceramics
Juan Orti ceramic artist
Juan Orti ceramic art

In my work, I aim to create intriguing forms using cylinders made on the potter’s wheel. I am drawn to basic shapes that convey a sense of unity, where nothing feels superfluous or missing. Achieving this ideal is, in reality, impossible, and perhaps that impossibility is the essence of the work itself: the unending search for the definitive form.

My inspiration comes from the everyday shapes that surround us—industrial and architectural forms, as well as objects of ordinary use. These are typically associated with functional or work-related contexts where aesthetics were not the primary goal. For me, their beauty lies in their simplicity and the strict functionality with which they were created.

The potter’s wheel allows me to create forms quickly and adapt them as I go. While it may seem like a limited medium, it facilitates the creation of volumes that become parts of a larger sculpture. As I work continuously, new ideas emerge, allowing me to evolve further—though there are many days when it feels impossible to keep going.