BIOGRAPHY
Born in San Antonio, Texas in 1950, Fritz Ozuna now lives on a farm in the Hill Country, near Comfort, Texas. Fritz makes colorful neon tubes that are used in combination with other sculptural materials.
Welded
aluminum, steel, wood, stone, acrylic paintings, found objects, and
other materials are brought to life when illuminated with his m The appearance of his sculptures change as light conditions change, coming to full bloom as darkness approaches. Colored neon reflected light is a special interest. His work has evolved from fairly simple wall sculptures, to large wall and freestanding indoor and outdoor art pieces. Fritz hopes in the future to build ever larger and more dramatic works that take his abilities and the materials used to their maximum potential.
WORK HISTORY Fritz's first job out of High School was picture framing at Marian & Cecil Casbier's Art Center Inc. Sometime after College , In 1976 he played cowboy for a summer outside of Aspen, Co. where he worked on a horse and cattle ranch, and tried his hand at Western paintings. He then painted cars at a Corvette customizing shop. The sign business came next. Fritz has worked with neon since 1978. The first years were spent doing commercial neon, with neon art as a sideline. Neon as artwork steadily became the focus of his work and is now almost a fulltime occupation. Since 1999, his work has largely consisted of commissions, for private homes.
EDUCATION Trinity University, San Antonio, TX San Antonio Collage, San Antonio, TX Hunter School of Art, San Antonio, TX Northern Neon Workshop, Wisconsin Welding Classes, Kerrville, TX
SELECTED AWARDS Julian Onderdonk Memorial Purchase Prize, San Antonio Art League Museum San Antonio Art League, permanent collection Certificate of
Appreciation, President’s Award, San Antonio Art League Museum Best of Show, 2006, Sixth Annual Membership Exhibit, Kerr Arts & Cultural Center, Kerrville,TX. First prize-Sculpture, 2007, Seventh Annual Membership Exhibit, Kerr Arts and Cultural Center
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS AT&T, Houston, TX. Kraft Foods, San Antonio, TX. Trinity University, San Antonio, TX. Tivy High School, Kerrville, TX. Houghton-Mifflin science text book-two page color spread of neon sculpture.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 2002 GlassWorks Galleries, 2 man show San Antonio, TX. 2003 Sculptors Dominion Invitational, San Antonio, TX. 2003 A Neon Gathering, The Arts Alliance at Clear Lake. Clear Lake, TX. 2003 KACC, Juried Members Show, Kerrville, TX Honorable Mention 2006 KACC, Juried Members Show, Kerrville, TX Best of Show
2006 Artist of the Month, Bank of the Hills, Comfort, TX. 2006 Juried, San Antonio Art League Members Show 2007 Juried, San Antonio Art League Members Show 2007 KACC, Juried Members Show, Kerrville, TX First Place - Sculpture
|
The Daily Times
Ozuna
chosen as Mardi Gras signature artist
From staff reports
Published December 20,
2007 . . . chosen for Mardi Gras on Main 2008 and the medium is a little bit different this year. . Fritz Ozuna has been selected as the signature artist with his electrifying work of neon art titled “Lightwaves 1”. The piece will be revealed for the first time at the event scheduled for Fat Tuesday, Feb. 5. Fritz was born in San Antonio in 1950 and now lives and works on a farm in Comfort. He creates neon art with a combination of other sculptural materials, including welded aluminum, steel, wood, stone, acrylic paintings and found objects. These other materials are brought to life when illuminated by multi-colored neon “lightsticks.” Fritz began working with neon in 1978 and spent his first years doing commercial work. Neon as artwork steadily became the focus of his work and now is his full-time occupation. Since 1999, his work largely has consisted of commissioned work for private homes. The winning artwork will be auctioned live during the evening Feb. 5. The top piece also will be reproduced into prints available for sale at the event. The winning piece also will be featured on the label of the event signature wine, Frimante, a merlot by Messina Hof Winery of Bryan. The signature wine also will be on sale that evening.
Mardi Gras on Main will be
from 6 to 9 p.m. Fat Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the historic Arcadia Theater in
down town Kerrville. In addition to exclusive artwork, the event will
feature tastings of fine wines, Kerrville restaurant specialties and the
sounds of Harry and the Hightones throughout the evening. Entry to Mardi
Gras on Main is $30 per person, and tickets will be available in
January.
For more information on the event, call the
Kerrville Main Street office
|
BUDWEISER COMMERCIALS
In September
of 1983 Fritz made two Budweiser Beer commercials. He was working at his
former father-in-laws sign business, and a couple of people had come by
to talk to him, and ask a few questions. Fritz hadn’t paid too much
attention to them, as he was busy
The next day
Fritz arrived on location at the “bar” wearing a clean white shirt-he
was promptly sent back home for a “work-shirt” and his apron. Once he
was back on location it was decided that the sign was too big for him to
hang by himself so his brother-in-law Mike was pressed into service.
When all the shooting was over
|