Mariano Ortuzar was born in Santiago, Chile, is one of the most gifted Chilean watercolorists who has attained international renown in this medium.  Critics have praised Ortuzar’s watercolors for excellence of technique, clarity and delicacy of transparencies contrasts of light and dark, striking perspectives, and superb harmony of color.  His favorite subjects are landscapes of his native Chile, famous for its beautiful lakes, forests, volcanoes, seaports, canals, and glaciers.  His paintings also include fabulous European, Asian and American scenes.

Paintings by Ortuzar are in the collections of Pope Paul VI in the Vatican, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, Mrs. A. Onassis, Vincent Price collection, Italian Princess Borghese and Prince J. DeBorbon, Chilean Ambassadors, and other personalities. His art clearly shows a character both spiritual and mystical, one of peace, simplicity, and delicacy which is, doubtless, the results of years spent in a religious institution and in the study of theology.