Gregg Ortiz talks about his inspirations, designs, and what he calls the indescribable ‘it factor.’

By A. Glenn Mandeville

Artist Gregg Ortiz, 38, began his career as a window dresser in New York City and now boasts an extensive resume that anyone in the doll industry would envy. His list of industry awards seems endless, and he has been featured in almost every major doll and collector magazine in circulation. Gregg has exhibited his designs everywhere, from The Plaza Hotel in New York City to The Art of Disney Gallery in Lake Buena, Fla. Right now, Gregg Ortiz is one of the hottest names in the business.

In 1991, Gregg began sculpting and showing his work at galleries, trade shows, and other events. Today he is an internationally acclaimed artist whose sculpts may sell for as much as $15,000 and are appreciated by celebrities like Demi Moore, Richard Simmons, and Rosie O’ Donnell. Gregg has also made stunning creations for the vice president of Euro Disney and the show director of Sea World, Fla. Gregg has created dolls for celebrities and advanced collectors alike.

He feels that celebrities, like all collectors, are interested in quality, originality, and diversity, but also confidential transactions that avoid unnecessary media attention. “It has been a pleasure having the opportunity to work with celebrities, with the ideas they have creating works of art for a certain part of their living spaces or just adding art to a special place in their home, just like you would with a painting,” says Gregg.

The advanced collector, according to Gregg, is often looking for an artist who is not afraid to mix vintage and contemporary materials. He often shops for vintage fabrics, which add to the unique quality of his creations. It is important for an artist to be aware of his or her surroundings; inspiration comes from many sources. A simple antique doily, for example, can breathe new life into a doll. 

His sculpting is guided by an idea or concept, and he particularly focuses on capturing poignant expressions and emotions through his work. Like many doll artists, Gregg believes that observing life and nature adds to what he calls the indescribable “it factor” in creating a doll. “The ‘it factor’ to me is a feeling; it’s that point in the creative process that I know the doll or sculpt emotes an energy toward what I am trying to convey through my work.”

Gregg’s training in fine arts sets him apart from many of his contemporaries and helps him to interpret the classics, such as Cinderella, a one-of-a-kind full-body fashion doll. While allowing the medieval tale of good and evil to spin a web into his creativity, Gregg takes that concept and moves it to a space that is all his own. This is the mark of an artist in any medium: the ability to take the written word and turn it into a three-dimensional piece that makes one think about the original story in an entirely different light. 

With this in mind, Gregg has designed one-of-kind-pieces for the Walt Disney Co. He took the copyright icon, Mickey Mouse, and made it an original piece, something not all doll artists would be able to do. Few collectors realize that the “personality” of Walt Disney characters is closely guarded, and even the most creative artist, when granted permission to make a doll in a legend’s likeness, must be careful not to stray too far from the icon itself. Gregg’s Mickey Mouse glass resin sculpt captured the original Disney feel but allowed for a new interpretation with Swarovski crystal buttons and crushed brocade. Gregg’s one-of-a-kind full-body sculpt The Little Mermaid is made of paper clay and came alive with inspiration from the Walt Disney classic and Gregg’s interpretative embellishments of hand-dyed lace, embroidered fabrics, and sequins.

“There must be flow and harmony in a piece,” says Gregg. “It’s not just the sculpt, but the marriage of color, sculpt, proportions, and definitely the attention to detail.”

He continues, “Movement of the hands is very important, it dictates the finished product.”

The aspiring doll artist who wants to cultivate an advanced collector clientele should remember that most collectors of this realm own a collection of basic dolls already. It would make sense that those who have the knowledge of the past and a keen eye for the present would be interested in adding a unique item to their collection. This translates into trust; trusting an artist to deliver a product that fits into what might already exist in a collection but what might stand out as a showpiece. As any interior decorator or landscape artist will do, Gregg often works with his clients to make sure that the piece will fit into the display environment that the client has in mind.

Gregg creates art pieces that are meant to be displayed but also enjoyed. Other pieces of his have been sold to raise money for various charitable organizations, such as the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF). With special thanks given to the many individuals who have helped him in over the years, Gregg adds, “I have put my heart and soul into the CAAF to help these children in need, which could not have been done alone.”

In terms of sculpting, Gregg hopes to pursue other avenues of production and to reach out to others through his work with limited-edition designs. His credentials extend far beyond the world of doll making and sculpting. In this respect, and in all others, he is an asset to the doll-making, and doll-collecting, community.

August 2006: Buy This Issue