Froelick Gallery is proud to introduce our newly signed artist, Orlando Almanza. Almanza pulls us into his dreamworld of memory, myth and loss with ethereal landscapes, portraits and storytelling. His stories take place in the natural world where figures are intertwined with plants, animals and light. The interconnectedness of his work points to the artist's deep dedication to nature, and the unique way it connects with myths and storytelling across cultures.
Recently, the walls of his studio have been dominated by one very monumental painting, a work commissioned by a private collector, in honor of Kwaebibiremhene (king of the dark lush forest) Nana Ofori Atta Okyenhene, (1912 to 1943) the late Okyenhene or King of the Akyem people and of Akyem Abuakwa people of Ghana. The newly finished, 14-feet-long painting, depicts the Okyenhene sitting on a throne, in a lush green forest and surrounded by verdant tropical flowers, depicting the heart of the kingdom is the Atewa Forest Reserve, a globally significant biodiversity area and home to some very rare species of flora and fauna. He is also surrounded by leopards, the totem of the Akyem people.
We are elated to exhibit and celebrate Orlando's accomplished commission as well as several large paintings that explore the myths and stories of his childhood growing up in the Cuban countryside, a handful of lithographs printed in Havana, Cuba, and other available works. Almanza was born and raised in Cuba and recently moved to Portland last year. He currently works and resides in Portland, OR, and Havana, Cuba.
Orlando Almanza's first solo exhibition with Froelick Gallery is scheduled for November 1st, 2023
