Artist Bio

Chandra Dieppa Ortiz was born in Patterson, New
Jersey in 1972, and lives and works in Boston,
Massachusetts. She received her BA from Florida
State University, a Post-Baccalaureate degree in
Painting from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts
and a Master of Science in Art Education from
Massachusetts College of Art.

Ms. Ortiz, known as Dieppa, works in a inter-related
series of paintings, mixed media collage, assemblage
and works on paper that explore the historical and
comtemporary use of storytelling. Dieppa uses musical
forms such as Jazz, Blues and Hip Hop to create
complex rhythmic compositions that create emotional
environments where fragments, symbols and images
play against textured surfaces.

Her work explores issues of race, class, gender and
culture in the hopes of creating a dialogue between
communities and generations by visualizing cultural
armor. Dieppa believes that "cultural armor" protects
by using love, humor, faith, music, stories and the
telling of hometruths to empower and inspire each
generation.

Dieppa has had solo and group exhibitions at the
Museum of the National Center for Afro-American
Artists, Boston, MA, The New Art Center, Newton, MA,
La Casa De La Cultura/The Center for Latino Arts,
Boston, MA, The Boston Center for the Arts, Boston,
MA, and The Copley Society of Boston among others.