Delita Martin | |
---|---|
Born | 1972 (age 51–52) |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater |
Texas Southern University (BFA) Purdue University (MFA) |
Known for | Printmaking, mixed media |
Website |
blackboxpressstudio |
Delita Martin (born 1972) is an American multimedia artist based in Huffman, Texas. [1]
Delita Martin was born in 1972 in Conroe, Texas. She attended Texas Southern University in Houston, receiving a BFA in drawing in 2002. [1] She then earned her MFA in printmaking from Purdue University in 2009. [2] She taught at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. [3]
Martin has stated that she knew she wanted to be an artist since she was five years old as she was exposed to art through her father's work as a carpenter and painter. [4]
As a multidisciplinary artist, Martin works across various techniques including printmaking, painting and stitching which incorporates indigenous and modern art-making. [5] Martin uses storytelling to provide a platform for Black women who have often been marginalized. [6] She frequently uses symbolism such as moons to represent women and birds to represent the human spirit. [7] Many of her works contain West African masks which highlight the connection between the mortal and spiritual world. [7] Martin's influences include Elizabeth Catlett, whose work she was introduced to as an undergraduate student. [8] Delita is also inspired by the African aesthetics she has learned exists throughout Black culture. [9]
Martin had her first show at the Community Artists' Collective and was an education coordinator for the nonprofit. [10] [11] She later founded her own studio, Black Box Press, in 2008. She was a lecturer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the Fine Arts department from 2008 to 2012. [2] Her work has been shown in the Havana Biennial and in Art Basel Miami. [5] She is a founding member of Black Women of Print, a printmaking collective for Black women which was founded in 2018. [5] [12] She is also a member of the ROUX artist collective alongside Ann Johnson, Rabéa Ballin, and Lovie Olivia. [13] [14] Delita has been featured as a black woman artist to have on your radar by Marie Claire. [15] She was a juror for “The Contemporary Print: 5×5,” at PrintAustin. [16]
Permanent collections of Delita Martin's works are held by National Museum of Women in the Arts, [17] Salamander Resort, [18] Minneapolis Institute of Art, [19] Bradbury Art Museum, [20] C.N. Gorman Museum, [21] Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, [22] David C. Driskell Center, [23] Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American-Art, [24] Studio Museum in Harlem, [25] Thrivent Financial, [26] William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, [26] US Embassy (Mauritania), [27] Muscarelle Museum of Art, and the Georgetown University Art Collection [28] and more.
Delita Martin | |
---|---|
Born | 1972 (age 51–52) |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater |
Texas Southern University (BFA) Purdue University (MFA) |
Known for | Printmaking, mixed media |
Website |
blackboxpressstudio |
Delita Martin (born 1972) is an American multimedia artist based in Huffman, Texas. [1]
Delita Martin was born in 1972 in Conroe, Texas. She attended Texas Southern University in Houston, receiving a BFA in drawing in 2002. [1] She then earned her MFA in printmaking from Purdue University in 2009. [2] She taught at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. [3]
Martin has stated that she knew she wanted to be an artist since she was five years old as she was exposed to art through her father's work as a carpenter and painter. [4]
As a multidisciplinary artist, Martin works across various techniques including printmaking, painting and stitching which incorporates indigenous and modern art-making. [5] Martin uses storytelling to provide a platform for Black women who have often been marginalized. [6] She frequently uses symbolism such as moons to represent women and birds to represent the human spirit. [7] Many of her works contain West African masks which highlight the connection between the mortal and spiritual world. [7] Martin's influences include Elizabeth Catlett, whose work she was introduced to as an undergraduate student. [8] Delita is also inspired by the African aesthetics she has learned exists throughout Black culture. [9]
Martin had her first show at the Community Artists' Collective and was an education coordinator for the nonprofit. [10] [11] She later founded her own studio, Black Box Press, in 2008. She was a lecturer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the Fine Arts department from 2008 to 2012. [2] Her work has been shown in the Havana Biennial and in Art Basel Miami. [5] She is a founding member of Black Women of Print, a printmaking collective for Black women which was founded in 2018. [5] [12] She is also a member of the ROUX artist collective alongside Ann Johnson, Rabéa Ballin, and Lovie Olivia. [13] [14] Delita has been featured as a black woman artist to have on your radar by Marie Claire. [15] She was a juror for “The Contemporary Print: 5×5,” at PrintAustin. [16]
Permanent collections of Delita Martin's works are held by National Museum of Women in the Arts, [17] Salamander Resort, [18] Minneapolis Institute of Art, [19] Bradbury Art Museum, [20] C.N. Gorman Museum, [21] Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, [22] David C. Driskell Center, [23] Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American-Art, [24] Studio Museum in Harlem, [25] Thrivent Financial, [26] William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, [26] US Embassy (Mauritania), [27] Muscarelle Museum of Art, and the Georgetown University Art Collection [28] and more.