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Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz
What if every Star Trek: The Original Series episode was a movie event? What would the movie poster look like? This was the inspiration to develop a one-of-a-kind set of images for the series that launched a franchise. Artist Juan Ortiz has created unique retro-style art with the look of a 60s movie poster, comic book, pulp novel cover or advertisement, one each for all 80 episodes.
About the Artist
Juan Ortiz is an avid Star Trek enthusiast and an accomplished artist that set out to create an art program representing each of the 80 episodes from the Star Trek: The Original Series. The artwork embodies his passion for the series, the transformational Sixties, and the visceral reaction generated from each episode.
Since 1985, Juan has been an illustrator/designer for Disney and Warner Bros. and has penciled covers for DC Comics’ Looney Tunes and Tiny Toons magazines. He is also the publisher of his own comic book series, Silver Comics, seen in the Disney/Dreamworks release I Am Number Four (produced by Steven Spielberg) as well as The Skull Army, a macabre/detective pulp, featuring his creation (named) The End.
About the Artist
Juan Ortiz is an avid Star Trek enthusiast and an accomplished artist that set out to create an art program representing each of the 80 episodes from the Star Trek: The Original Series. The artwork embodies his passion for the series, the transformational Sixties, and the visceral reaction generated from each episode.
Since 1985, Juan has been an illustrator/designer for Disney and Warner Bros. and has penciled covers for DC Comics’ Looney Tunes and Tiny Toons magazines. He is also the publisher of his own comic book series, Silver Comics, seen in the Disney/Dreamworks release I Am Number Four (produced by Steven Spielberg) as well as The Skull Army, a macabre/detective pulp, featuring his creation (named) The End.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2013
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92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 4, 2016
Utterly gorgeous. This is the finest collection of geek art (never mind just "Star Trek" art) you will find in any medium...and I am definitely finding a way to hang some of these up on my wall. My personal favourites are the prints for "The Ultimate Computer" and "Spock's Brain"...and those choices were extremely hard to make.
June 20, 2017
Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz (2013) is a gorgeous coffee-table size book. Ortiz who has worked for Disney and Warner Brothers and published his own comic book series was looking to create something unique and uniquely his. He has definitely done just that with his re-imagining of the classic episodes of Star Trek. The images are reminiscent of movie posters and combine elements which evoke the spirit of the classic television series as well as the 1960s of Trek's initial run. Each poster-size page is a gem in and of itself, but as a collection the book is extraordinarily lovely.
In addition to the beautiful artwork, the back of the book gives short, sometime humorous synopses of each episode as well as a brief explanation from Ortiz on the influences on his artwork for the particular poster and the effect he was striving for.
This makes a perfect gift for the Trek fan in your life (ask me how I know...my best friend gifted this to me for Christmas of 2015). Or indulge yourself and splurge on this one-of-a-kind collection of artwork.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
In addition to the beautiful artwork, the back of the book gives short, sometime humorous synopses of each episode as well as a brief explanation from Ortiz on the influences on his artwork for the particular poster and the effect he was striving for.
This makes a perfect gift for the Trek fan in your life (ask me how I know...my best friend gifted this to me for Christmas of 2015). Or indulge yourself and splurge on this one-of-a-kind collection of artwork.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
January 27, 2019
While I'm not a trekkie, I watched the show enough in reruns that I recognized most of these episodes. Ortiz references many key 60's artists as well.
Great fun.
Great fun.
September 10, 2013
What an incredible book! Ortiz has taken the original Star Trek episodes and created a late 60s/early 70s style poster based on each story. Even if you've seen every episode many times, these artworks will give the stories a fresh, unique flavor. The perfect gift for any fan of the original series: an oversized hardcover, approx. 11" x 17". Buy it soon before it goes out of print.
September 4, 2019
Originally published online at BORG.com.
This week Star Trek: The Next Generation observes its 30th anniversary of airing its pilot episode. For this anniversary Titan Books released this week an over-sized hardcover book collecting artist Juan Ortiz’s poster art that he designed for a 2015 trading card series by Rittenhouse called the Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series (previewed here at borg.com two years ago). Like the trading card series, the new book The Art of Juan Ortiz: Star Trek: The Next Generation features all 177 episodes of the series, as interpreted by the celebrated illustrator and designer for firms that include Disney and Warner Bros. You might recall Ortiz’s breakout work, his 2013 poster art for Star Trek’s original series, an eye-popping re-imagining of each episode of the classic show as if each episode had its own movie-style poster (reviewed here at borg.com). For Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ortiz takes a similar approach–each poster an homage to an episode–but his style and focus are entirely different. The Art of Juan Ortiz: Star Trek: The Next Generation requires the individual to take a bit of an intellectual journey. If you were a fan of Ortiz’s original Star Trek series designs, you might approach this expecting something similar. It’s not. A flip through his book is more like attending a new gallery show of a modern artist you’ve seen before but he’s debuting an exhibition of new work.
As with any artwork the interpretation is in the eyes of the viewer, sometimes–and perhaps even usually–requiring the viewer to take an active approach to the viewing experience. The viewer must participate in a review of Ortiz’s posters. With Ortiz’s original series, they all rang with a similar nostalgia factor, applying mid-century retro imagery from advertising, movies, cartoons, and TV shows. Some of his Next Generation posters follow the rules he created with his first series. His poster for The Big Goodbye features a pulp noir cover with glimpses at the crew in the Dixon Hill holonovel. The Dauphin poster features a stylized silhouette of the scene where Wesley introduces Salia to another world. His look at A Fistful of Datas is an homage to classic spaghetti Western posters. And his image for The Neutral Zone (as seen on the book cover) captures the Romulan warbird reaching out for the Enterprise-D, similar to stylized imagery from his first series. Ortiz mostly forgoes the more expected nods this time. He also forgoes 1980s design tropes–something a viewer might expect for a 1980s series homage–and opts instead for inspiration from indie film posters, black-light posters, rock/punk, and comic books generally. The result is a bit refreshing while also unexpected and even jarring. The artist clearly takes the viewer on a new journey–an intriguing one that tells the viewer as much about our own knowledge of the series as about Ortiz’s views of the series–while he explores a new and different way to look at Star Trek.
Ortiz acknowledges in the notes that his favorite character is Brent Spiner’s Data, and Data seems to be his default subject matter for many of the images, while he also employs Patrick Stewart’s Captain Picard frequently and appears to use Denise Crosby as a focus whenever possible. As much as he focuses an image on the grand theme of an episode, he just as often pulls the most obscure–while still memorable–detail for the eye to focus on. Take for instance his response to Parallels, an episode that showcases Michael Dorn’s Worf, who has crossed over from a parallel universe. Ortiz instead uses as his focus Riker, featured captaining the ship and later destroyed among an infinite universe of Enterprise-Ds. His view of Timespace takes a 1960s mod approach, and focuses on the humorous fleeting image where Picard draws a smiley-face in a cloud of gas. With every image he seems to request the viewer to ask the question: What part of the episode is being conveyed here? With that query he causes interaction between the viewer and the art. And the viewer may not always grasp the message of every poster, which may prompt repeat viewings.
While his best works here are subject to interpretation, he offers up several that one might see as standouts. His view of The Next Phase has a Romulan firing on a person running through a dimensional wall with only a bit of the leg visible. His magazine cover homage to Qpid features a UPC code and focuses on the memorable Worf as a not-so merry man. Second Chances features a clever playing card-like juxtaposition of a red tinted Will Riker with a yellow-tinted Thomas Riker. His looks at Firstborn and Birthright, Part 2, offer classic Klingon symbolism. Tapestry uses vast white space to portray Picard in the endless void under the watching eye of John de Lancie’s Q. And Rascals shows the four young versions of the officers peering around a corner in a classic comedy scene.
A new experience and a nice entry for the coffee-table collector’s bookshelf and something for any fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Art of Juan Ortiz: Star Trek: The Next Generation is available now.
This week Star Trek: The Next Generation observes its 30th anniversary of airing its pilot episode. For this anniversary Titan Books released this week an over-sized hardcover book collecting artist Juan Ortiz’s poster art that he designed for a 2015 trading card series by Rittenhouse called the Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series (previewed here at borg.com two years ago). Like the trading card series, the new book The Art of Juan Ortiz: Star Trek: The Next Generation features all 177 episodes of the series, as interpreted by the celebrated illustrator and designer for firms that include Disney and Warner Bros. You might recall Ortiz’s breakout work, his 2013 poster art for Star Trek’s original series, an eye-popping re-imagining of each episode of the classic show as if each episode had its own movie-style poster (reviewed here at borg.com). For Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ortiz takes a similar approach–each poster an homage to an episode–but his style and focus are entirely different. The Art of Juan Ortiz: Star Trek: The Next Generation requires the individual to take a bit of an intellectual journey. If you were a fan of Ortiz’s original Star Trek series designs, you might approach this expecting something similar. It’s not. A flip through his book is more like attending a new gallery show of a modern artist you’ve seen before but he’s debuting an exhibition of new work.
As with any artwork the interpretation is in the eyes of the viewer, sometimes–and perhaps even usually–requiring the viewer to take an active approach to the viewing experience. The viewer must participate in a review of Ortiz’s posters. With Ortiz’s original series, they all rang with a similar nostalgia factor, applying mid-century retro imagery from advertising, movies, cartoons, and TV shows. Some of his Next Generation posters follow the rules he created with his first series. His poster for The Big Goodbye features a pulp noir cover with glimpses at the crew in the Dixon Hill holonovel. The Dauphin poster features a stylized silhouette of the scene where Wesley introduces Salia to another world. His look at A Fistful of Datas is an homage to classic spaghetti Western posters. And his image for The Neutral Zone (as seen on the book cover) captures the Romulan warbird reaching out for the Enterprise-D, similar to stylized imagery from his first series. Ortiz mostly forgoes the more expected nods this time. He also forgoes 1980s design tropes–something a viewer might expect for a 1980s series homage–and opts instead for inspiration from indie film posters, black-light posters, rock/punk, and comic books generally. The result is a bit refreshing while also unexpected and even jarring. The artist clearly takes the viewer on a new journey–an intriguing one that tells the viewer as much about our own knowledge of the series as about Ortiz’s views of the series–while he explores a new and different way to look at Star Trek.
Ortiz acknowledges in the notes that his favorite character is Brent Spiner’s Data, and Data seems to be his default subject matter for many of the images, while he also employs Patrick Stewart’s Captain Picard frequently and appears to use Denise Crosby as a focus whenever possible. As much as he focuses an image on the grand theme of an episode, he just as often pulls the most obscure–while still memorable–detail for the eye to focus on. Take for instance his response to Parallels, an episode that showcases Michael Dorn’s Worf, who has crossed over from a parallel universe. Ortiz instead uses as his focus Riker, featured captaining the ship and later destroyed among an infinite universe of Enterprise-Ds. His view of Timespace takes a 1960s mod approach, and focuses on the humorous fleeting image where Picard draws a smiley-face in a cloud of gas. With every image he seems to request the viewer to ask the question: What part of the episode is being conveyed here? With that query he causes interaction between the viewer and the art. And the viewer may not always grasp the message of every poster, which may prompt repeat viewings.
While his best works here are subject to interpretation, he offers up several that one might see as standouts. His view of The Next Phase has a Romulan firing on a person running through a dimensional wall with only a bit of the leg visible. His magazine cover homage to Qpid features a UPC code and focuses on the memorable Worf as a not-so merry man. Second Chances features a clever playing card-like juxtaposition of a red tinted Will Riker with a yellow-tinted Thomas Riker. His looks at Firstborn and Birthright, Part 2, offer classic Klingon symbolism. Tapestry uses vast white space to portray Picard in the endless void under the watching eye of John de Lancie’s Q. And Rascals shows the four young versions of the officers peering around a corner in a classic comedy scene.
A new experience and a nice entry for the coffee-table collector’s bookshelf and something for any fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Art of Juan Ortiz: Star Trek: The Next Generation is available now.
February 2, 2022
This book gave me so much joy. The art is phenomenal. Highly recommended for any Star Trek fans, but also anyone who just loves vintage sci-fi movie poster art. Absolutely loved it!
July 26, 2024
Fun posters! Super retro, super 1960s.
September 29, 2013
While I am a great fan of movie art books, this one is a little bit of a twist. This oversized book showcases the work of Juan Ortiz in a very specific way. As I read the author interview, Juan gives insight into the how and why of this book. “It was like eating cookies, I had to do more”.
What Juan did, of course, was to produce an old style movie poster for each of the episodes of Star Trek. There is a bit of poetic license in the art, of course. My personal favorite is “The Trouble with Tribbles’, mainly because it looks like Starship is shooting pom poms. These are very 1960s posters.
The back of the book contains a commentary, each poster with title, episode info, quote from the show and commentary by the artist. The quotes can be awesome (on my favorite, Tribbles, the quote: “From my observations, it seems they’re bisexual, reproducing at will. And, brother, have they got a lot of will.”
To be honest this is suited much more to a Trekkie fan than to the general performing arts. I think it would be more meaningful to those who are engaged with the show and have seen all the episodes. I looked at it strictly from the art perspective and enjoyed it, but I lacked that connection to it. Recommended for Star Trek fans.
What Juan did, of course, was to produce an old style movie poster for each of the episodes of Star Trek. There is a bit of poetic license in the art, of course. My personal favorite is “The Trouble with Tribbles’, mainly because it looks like Starship is shooting pom poms. These are very 1960s posters.
The back of the book contains a commentary, each poster with title, episode info, quote from the show and commentary by the artist. The quotes can be awesome (on my favorite, Tribbles, the quote: “From my observations, it seems they’re bisexual, reproducing at will. And, brother, have they got a lot of will.”
To be honest this is suited much more to a Trekkie fan than to the general performing arts. I think it would be more meaningful to those who are engaged with the show and have seen all the episodes. I looked at it strictly from the art perspective and enjoyed it, but I lacked that connection to it. Recommended for Star Trek fans.
October 5, 2013
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12224480
Excellent. Each poster is a little gem in itself with subtle references to the underlying themes of each episode, although I will admit you have to be a fan of Star Trek and know each episode to "get" it.
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12224480
Excellent. Each poster is a little gem in itself with subtle references to the underlying themes of each episode, although I will admit you have to be a fan of Star Trek and know each episode to "get" it.
May 2, 2014
These are wonderful re-imaginings of every episode of the original 'Star Trek' series done in movie poster form. Juan Ortiz fully utilizes the visual palettes of the era (plenty of influence from Saul Bass, Jack Kirby, even some Soviet-era propaganda stylings) that gives each poster a genuine feel. At 11" x 17" each image is well presented, some worthy of framed display.
October 24, 2015
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. And visually witty too.
A perfect birthday present: buying it for myself would have felt far too indulgent (I mean, it's just pictures!) but since I was given it I've probably spent hours and hours pouring over the collected images.
A perfect coffee table book for Trek fans.
A perfect birthday present: buying it for myself would have felt far too indulgent (I mean, it's just pictures!) but since I was given it I've probably spent hours and hours pouring over the collected images.
A perfect coffee table book for Trek fans.
December 26, 2013
Beautiful retro-style art posters for each of the original series episodes. I've been admiring this series online for a while, and had just been tempted by this book in a store (but resisted), so it was a treat to get this as a Christmas present from my parents. Gorgeous work.
September 8, 2013
I think this may be my favorite Star Trek item of all time. It almost makes me want to watch the episodes again. This is fantastic art, and I'm very much looking forward to his next project
October 14, 2013
Beautiful art! Ortiz has created one poster for each episode of the original Star Trek series. His command of '60s style graphic design is impressive. These are gorgeous posters.
January 24, 2014
Awesome book, the images are fantastic and in an amazing retro style!
March 2, 2014
Love the posters, what a great idea. If these came out during the airing of the show...my room would have been wallpapered with them!
September 21, 2014
This is one of the coolest books I have ever seen. I think I need to eventually buy it.
March 27, 2016
Gorgeous, insightful, and occasionally funny. A joy for the fan of Star Trek TOS.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews