Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Ochoa.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always loved art and design ever since I was little, I was always creating and building things. I went to school for graphic design and then slowly realized that wasn’t creative enough for me and it felt a little too boring so I was always experimenting with working in different mediums to satisfy my need to create. After college I started experimenting with woodworking during the pandemic and fully taught myself how to design and build furniture in my backyard. I ended up making my first chair out of plywood and woven hemp cord that still sits in my living room today. After that I ended up working as a textile designer for a bit but I still wasn’t satisfied and the desire to fulfill my dream as an artist just grew stronger and stronger. So I decided to dedicate myself full time to becoming the artist that I was meant to be. So I’ve been doing woodworking and carpentry for the last few years teaching myself everything and learning as I go. I started showing my work in different exhibitions around Miami, having studio visits with gallerists, and I recently just had my first solo show last year here in Miami at Quiet Hours Gallery which then flowed right into showing my work at SCOPE Art Show Miami Beach during Art Basel where my work was selected by Perez Art Museum Miami’s chief curator Jose Diaz for the SCOPE Acquisition Prize, an acquisition selected from SCOPE for the museum’s permanent collection. I was beyond overjoyed and couldn’t believe it and I am so grateful that I got my first museum acquisition and my work now gets to live in the PAMM. I honestly didn’t even know that prize existed, so receiving that opportunity was really a huge surprise.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is not easy at all, being an artist is not as glamorous as it may seem but I wouldn’t have it any other way because this is truly what I love doing. Getting your work out there and seen by the right people is hard but persistence is key.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Influenced by my Cuban and Colombian heritage, my work explores the intersection of ancestral techniques with contemporary design principles. Transitioning from a background in graphic design and fine art, I now venture into the realms of furniture and object design, blending traditional woodworking and textile techniques with innovative approaches. My artistic practice is characterized by a bold synthesis of ancient methods and futuristic aesthetics, aiming to explore themes such as identity, the cyclical nature of life, and the juxtaposition between opposing ideas, materials, and techniques.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Honestly I am still learning every day, you never really stop learning. But the only thing I can say is don’t give up, you never know how close you are to getting exactly where you want to be, keep going!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danielochoa.myportfolio.com
Image Credits
Lauren Bouza, Max Machado, Devin Sao
