ABOUT
MEET ROSA
Rosa Mar Tato Ortega is a Spanish‑Australian visual artist and creative collaborator based on the Mornington Peninsula. With a postgraduate degree in Fine Art from RMIT and a multilingual perspective, she is recognised for her capacity to produce work both independently and in dynamic collaboration- work that persistently challenges the constraints of traditional, object‑based art
At the heart of Rosa’s practice lies a profound commitment to deep listening. Her work unfolds through dialogue, community engagement, or immersive research - weaving together narratives of history, culture, place, and environment to bring layered meaning to her work.
Rosa’s referees attest to her capacity to work both independently and in collaboration, facilitating outcomes that are dynamic in scope and impact. Colleagues and collaborators consistently note that her projects encourage audiences to look beyond the boundaries of traditional, object-based art.
At the heart of her practice is a discipline of deep listening - a mode of engagement that transcends convention. Her works emerge through conversations, sustained community engagement, and immersive research, where narrative, history, culture, environment, and lived experience converge to shape the final form.
Whether realised in public or private contexts, Rosa’s projects are rooted in site and immersion. She recognises that meaningful art often requires a degree of curatorial risk - embracing processes of allowing, unfolding, and responding to the evolving nature of each commission.
Beyond her own creative output, Rosa frequently acts as a conduit between artist and institution, facilitating logistics, media strategies, and structural frameworks that support artists and their work.
Her practice extends to bespoke commissions and tailored art workshops. Enquiries are welcomed for the development of new projects.
ASSESSMENTS OF ROSA'S ARTISTIC PRACTICE
'There is a strong environmental focus in Rosa’s process, intertwined with community storytelling. The layering of imagery in her final artwork reflects the layering of cultural heritage and backgrounds of Flemington with an underlying response to waterways and landscape. Her final artwork for the Flemington Community Hub respectfully and thoughtfully represents people and location and broader themes of environmental conservation, migration and local history. Her artistic processes and outcomes deliver benefits to individuals, the wider public and community.'
Our brief called for an artist to engage with key stakeholders to create an artwork for a series of perforated metal panels. The scale of the panels are approximately 7 metres x 7 metres, with eight panels in total across the west façade of the new building. Construction is underway.'
Gemma Portelli
Project Support Officer
Moonee Valley City Council
Buwi Birrip Djerring - a 7-metre-wide public artwork weaving together Flemington’s cultural narratives, environmental heritage, and the spirit of coming together.
On 9 September 2023, Moonee Valley City Council unveiled the Djerring Flemington Hub, its first purpose-built community hub, featuring Buwi Birrip Djerring - the largest public artwork to date by Mornington Peninsula artist Rosa Mar Tato Ortega. Spanning 7 x 7 metres across eight façade panels, the work emerged from the challenges of the pandemic, integrating environmental themes with the cultural narratives of Flemington.
Developed through consultation with Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elders, local environmental groups, and community members - and in collaboration with two mentored young artists - the piece reflects Rosa’s commitment to environmental stewardship, migration stories, and local heritage. Designed by Croxon Ramsay architects, the Hub stands on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, with its name Djerring (“together”) selected by public vote.
'While personal experience is at the centre of her art practice, it is often through outward connections to community or site that her work unfolds. She consistently explores the tensions between material form and ephemeral light/shadow interplay and her work seamlessly crosses between the platforms of public art and personal professional practice.
Subtle collaborations, impressions and triggers, chance meetings, synchronous moments, and often intimate conversations are crucial to understanding her work.'
Dr Sally Northfield
Education Program Coordinator United Nations Association Australia (Victoria)
Co-Manager Women’s Mural Documentation Project
WYNDHAM CITY'S SALTWATER COMMUNITY CENTRE
'Her CV will demonstrate created works which provide specific environments where she focuses on research, the production and the exhibition of cultural projects, especially those ones related to history, culture, community and their environment. She has been invited to present & exhibit works to celebrate the Women’s Art Register (WAR) 40 Year Celebration. This was quite the installation at the City Library. Rosa has been committed to meeting with manufacturers of materials in Australia so to develop a portfolio of eco-friendly materials that can be integrated into future commissions and site-specific art projects. A highly committed and resourceful artist in her art production as well as meeting timelines and architectural, structural and building guidelines. Whilst she demonstrates with ongoing independent exhibition program, she gives any new project the same dedication." (See images ‘El Pañuelo’ & Wyndham Public Art Commission.)'
David Fitzsimmons
Creative Urban Places Program Lead I Arts Melbourne
City of Melbourne
BIRDS & WATERWAYS
Rosa completed a 12 month Artist in Residence (AIR) at Park Victoria's Coolart Wetlands on the Mornington Peninsula She exhibited works inside the Homestead and in the Minsmere Birdhide & Crake Birdhide in both May & November 2018.
The residency culminated in a day where the public were encouraged to discover the artwork in and around the Coolart Homestead and Wetlands property. The Maggie and Bird series were created in these surrounds and editions of these works are for sale. Rosa created a series of wall hangings and experimenting with range of materials such as carpet, velvet, and silk.
Collaborations in relation to the bird series to develop a range of textiles are welcome.
'Through a process of consultation, immersion and the gathering of local stories Rosa Mar Tato Ortega produces an artistic interpretation of the site. Her artistic approach is organic and unique, professional, whilst following processes and organisational guidelines. She invites the viewer to individually experience the work from a different perspective. It can be enlightening.'
Julie Ebbott President
Friends of Coolart
