Itziar Okariz
Itziar Okariz (also spelled Itziar Ocáriz, born 1965) is a Basque/Spanish artist based in New York City and San Sebastián.
Itziar Okariz

Raúl Bogako / Foku · Berria Egunkaria · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1965. · San Sebastián.
- Nationality
- Spain.
- Occupation
- artist, photographer and filmmaker.
- Education
- University of the Basque Country.
- Languages
- Basque, Spanish and English.
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Documentary summary
Itziar Okariz (also spelled Itziar Ocáriz, born 1965) is a Basque/Spanish artist based in New York City and San Sebastián.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q4970865 · wikipedia · Itziar Okariz
In this article
Biography
Biography
Itziar Okariz studied at University of the Basque Country. The recorded working language is Basque, Spanish and English. Work by Itziar Okariz is recorded in the collections of Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Museu d'Art Jaume Morera and MACBA Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art.
Itziar Okariz was born in San Sebastián and studied painting and sculpture at the Universidad del País Vasco.
Work
Work
Her work is usually based on photographs or film installations and performance, in forms inspired by the Situationists. She is often identified as a feminist artist, although she does not like the label because it contextualizes her work too narrowly. According to Javier Hontoria of Artforum, she "has always focused on a performativity that also examines the ties between landscape and architecture, sign and ritual, or sexuality and territory. In her quest to render the self, her practice took a turn to the verbal over the spatial, privileging language over the body... Much of Okariz's practice is built upon small linguistic units and signs that produce meaning through emphatic reiteration." She has exhibited works in many countries in Europe and in the United States. • To Pee In Public And Private Spaces
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Itziar Okariz • Born — 1965 • Field — Performance • Training — Universidad del País Vasco • Works — Faces (1999) Irrintzi (2007) Publication Itziar Okariz (2001) To Pee In Public And Private Spaces (2000-2004) In her own note she describes the artwork, "to execute the action as described in the title (location included) or, one could say, contained in the title." She usually tries to do it while there is little movement in the streets because of the illegal aspect of the action, and she "find[s] it interesting to delineate what is legally allowed and what is not, as a definition of the individual in society." She has chosen a number of different locations, "always with the aim of expanding the spectrum of meanings." • Selection of work • Faces (video installation, 1999) • Publication Itziar Okariz (Vitoria-Gasteiz: Servicio Central de Publicaciones del Gobierno Vasco, 2001) • Mear en espacios públicos o privados / Peeing in Public or Private Spaces • Trepar edificios • "Irrintzi" (Exhibition Chacun à son goût, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, 2007)
Identity
Identity
Itziar Okariz is recorded with the occupation performance artist. Recorded as artist, photographer and filmmaker.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1965
Itziar Okariz was born on 21 April 1965.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4970865: Itziar Okariz
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Itziar Okariz”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Awards
• 1995: 1st prize in Gure Artea of the Basque Country • 1993: 3rd prize in the Certamen de Artistas Noveles in San Sebastian
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
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Recognition and collections.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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