Highly educated, Ortega earned a degree in Linguistics and Classical Languages at Duns Scotus College in Detroit and a master's in biblical theology and ministry at Oblate College in San Antonio.  Jesusita Martinez taught Ortega to make pottery in the Jicarilla tradition.  He also studied pottery making from the last Jicarilla Apache on the reservation still making pottery, Sara Petago.  His preferred to make utilitarian pottery.  Ortega taught pottery making to individuals from all the New Mexico pueblos as well as to Hispanics and other non-Indians.  

Four pages are devoted to Felipe Ortega in the chapter Master and Masterworks found in the publication All That Glitters  The Emergence of Native American Micaceous Art Pottery in Northern New Mexico.

This gentleman's pottery is possessed by noteworthy institutions such as the Smithsonian.