Portrait of Jimmy Carter by Octavio Ocampo
© Octavio Ocampo
The Octavio Ocampo portrait of Jimmy Carter was a gift presented by President of Mexico, José López Portillo, in February 1979. Artist Ocampo painted a portrait of Mexican President Portillo in his unusual metamorphic style, and the President was so impressed that he in turn commissioned the artist to paint a portrait of Jimmy Carter as a state gift. Ocampo's paintings in metamorphic style incorporate realistic and figurative details within the larger portrait image that he creates. For his portrait of Jimmy Carter, he uses both national symbols and personal images.

Ocampo was born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico and showed early artistic promise. He studied at the School of Painting and Sculpture of the National Fine Art Institute in Mexico and at the Art Institute of San Francisco and has been a prolific artist. His artwork also includes murals and sculpture.

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