Artist Biography

Justin Angelo Martin is a fine artist artist based in New York City, living in northern New Jersey. He is currently pursuing a BFA in Fine Arts at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, receiving the Silas H. Rhodes Merit Scholarship. Martin connects his appreciation for classical painting techniques with contemporary approaches that push boundaries through differing mediums as a source of inspiration. Martin also has an AAS in Graphic Design from Bergen Community College in New Jersey, where his ideas of composing images through varying materials and techniques developed. The artist specializes in oil painting, also working with charcoal, photography, and design. Martin’s work emphasizes the human experience, and articulates the ways in which memories and imaginations can be actualized on a two-dimensional plane. His painting style reflects classical techniques, as that is his technical foundation, and incorporates an adaptive painterly expression that leaves room for narrative elements. Martin’s paintings were recently exhibited for a juried show at SVA Chelsea Gallery.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work emphasizes the human experience, and articulates the ways in which memories and imaginations can be actualized. Within the imagery in my work, I depict representations of real life scenes incorporating imaginative possibilities. I view my work as being representative of the nature of relationships— often demonstrating the balance between two things that coexist. Material usage and imagery converge, as my technique reflects on my ideas. My paintings consist of vigorous paint strokes, opaque colors, strong contrasts along with loose painterly strokes, feather-like appearances, and transparent colors. I use strong brushstrokes and opacity to clearly define my subjects and give them value. I associate the loose strokes and transparent textures with a hazy memory or imagination piecing an image together. The relationship within my painting style, both firm and loose, reflects on the themes within my images.

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