Gabriel Santiago Ortiz is a multidisciplinary artist and Interior Designer born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, currently based in New York City. His creative vision harmonizes art architecture, transforming environments into immersive experiences balance beauty and functionality.

Rooted in Puerto Rican heritage, his merges cultural storytelling with modern sophistication. Early recognition in Puerto Rico’s creative scene shaped his design voice, honoring craftsmanship while embracing innovation. His spans interior architecture, design, sculpture, and digital art, reflecting his belief every space can carry a soul. Gabriel collaborates with clients and art institutions to create works that bridge his Caribbean roots with New York City's vibrant pulse.

Design Portfolio

Discover my portfolio of projects that harmonize art and design to create unique designs and spaces.

"Art and Design transforms your interiors into stunning reflections of your style. Is about to creates inviting and functional spaces that enhance your lifestyle".

"American Dream"

Community Spotlight – BronxNet | American Dream

I was featured on American Dream, a community spotlight interview on BronxNet, hosted by Jomil Luna.
During the interview, I shared my journey as a multidisciplinary artist and interior designer, discussing my creative process, cultural influences, and the importance of community representation through art and design. The conversation highlighted how my work bridges creativity, identity, and purpose, while contributing to meaningful narratives within the Bronx and greater New York City creative scene.

The full interview is available on YouTube.

Watch Interview

Elevate Your Space

Decorating with Personal Style

I was interviewed by TeleOnce to showcase my interior organization and design work at Costa Bahía Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, featuring a collaboration with IKEA.

During the interview, I discussed the importance of functional organization as a key design tool to enhance the guest experience, optimize space, and elevate the overall aesthetic of a hotel room. The segment highlighted how thoughtfully selected and organized IKEA storage and furnishing solutions were used to maximize efficiency while maintaining a clean, cohesive, and inviting design.

The conversation emphasized my approach as an interior designer—blending creativity, practicality, and attention to detail while showcasing how strategic product collaboration can successfully support hospitality projects that prioritize comfort, functionality, and visual harmony.

Discover More

Biophilic Installation

I developed a biophilic installation as part of my residency with Ankhlave Arts Residency on Governors Island, exploring the relationship between nature, space planning, and human presence within an intimate interior setting.

The installation reflects my ongoing interest in biophilic design as an emotional and spatial practice, informed by both my background in interior design and my cultural roots in Puerto Rico, where nature, climate, and material memory are deeply intertwined. Rather than replicating nature, the work translates it—using form, light, and material to suggest presence, balance, and connection.

Artist Interview & Public Dialogue

During the residency, I participated in an artist interview discussing the conceptual intent behind the installation, the significance of using site-specific natural materials, and how sculptural lighting can function as both art and spatial experience. The conversation positioned the work within a broader dialogue about sustainability, material awareness, and the role of biophilia in contemporary design and art practices.

Explore the Experience

"Sing for our culture"

Artist Statement:

- "I was selected to participate in Sing for Hope as part of their iconic Sing for Hope Pianos, a citywide public art initiative that transforms pianos into functional works of art placed throughout New York City’s public spaces'.

The design represents the “baldosa criolla” or hydraulic tile, known for its European architectural influence and role in colonial homes, reflecting history and cultural significance. In Old San Juan, Puerto Rico once invaded by Spain the fusion of new buildings and constructions reshapes the area’s historical essence. Through this design, I aim to continue sharing my Puerto Rican heritage, celebrating my culture and passion for art and design, ensuring that history is preserved while embracing modern innovation. This tile embodies the connection between the past and present, keeping tradition alive in the midst of change.

Sing for Hope Piano

K-Designers

A Curated Dialogue between Art, Culture & Design

Koper Furniture × KDesigner

A Curated Dialogue between Art, Culture & Design

In my featured design segment with Koper Furniture, a collab with La Dolce Vita store as a living philosophy where everyday beauty, cultural storytelling, and personal narrative merge within space. This project was more than a styling exercise; it was a curated collaboration between design, art, and craft.

For this segment, I had the honor of working closely with Bernardo Medina, a celebrated pop artist from Puerto Rico, whose vibrant energy and visual language brought a dynamic artistic pulse to the environment. .

At the heart of the dining vignette, I selected an exquisite Lladró porcelain piece as the table’s centerpiece a nod to artisanal mastery and timeless craft. Lladró is a Spanish porcelain brand renowned since 1953 for its handcrafted art porcelain figurines and decorative sculptures, each imbued with meticulous detail and quiet elegance.

This centerpiece wasn’t just décor it was a sculptural focal point that grounded the space and tied the artistic collaborations back to heritage, materiality, and tactile presence.

The outcome was a space where design and art weren’t separate disciplines, but partners in narrative a showpiece that celebrated aesthetics, community, and the joy of living beautifully.

Watch explained video !