Matt & Roxy Ortiz

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Matt Kawika Ortiz and Roxy Ortiz are a husband and wife art duo who collaborate under the name Wooden Wave. Frequently using treehouses as their subject matter, Wooden Wave engages the viewer's imagination with paintings that present a whimsical take on sustainability. Place-based stories and histories are incorporated with a conscious attention to detail. They're interested in melding elements of the natural world with ideas of technology (both modern and ancestral), to create meaningful and joyful narratives.

Wooden Wave has painted murals across Hawaii and the continental United States. Locations include the headquarters of Zappos and REI. They also specialize in illustration, with clients including musician Jack Johnson, comedian George Lopez, and boxer Floyd Mayweather. They’ve designed shoe collections for the footwear company Olukai, and continue to do creative work for the brand. Roxy and Matt have exhibited their fine art paintings in the US and abroad, including two exhibitions with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. In 2019, Matt was a contestant on NBC’s craft competition show, “Making It.” As AAPI artists, they enjoy opportunities to share the culture of Hawaii with the world.