BIOGRAPHY

James Ormiston is a Kiwi-born artist based in Barcelona. Raised on a farm in rural New Zealand, he has long been fascinated by how personal histories shape perception. His work now explores memory itself—how the past never stays still, how its fragments shift, compete, and demand attention.

He paints portraits and figures as we recall them: some parts sharp and vivid, others fading or disappearing. He emphasizes textures and details that feel significant, leaving other areas unfinished, scraped back, or obscured.

Recently, he has begun leaving underdrawings visible. Their imperfect, almost childlike lines highlight the artifice of the work, echoing how memory functions: some moments remain clear, others blur, yet the underlying structure persists.

His process moves between exaggeration and omission, letting bright underlayers emerge while softening or removing details. This layering mirrors memory itself—selective, flawed, and always shifting. His paintings explore how we construct and preserve the past, revealing both its fragility and endurance.