Women Heal through Rite and Ritual
Lavett Ballard | Tawny Chatmon | Oletha DeVane | Shanequa Gay | Delita Martin | Elsa Muñoz | Renée Stout | exhibition page
Delita Martin
Black Moon, 2019
Relief printing, charcoal, fabric, decorative papers, hand stitching, gelatin printing, acrylic
72"h x 51 1/2"w
Price: $27,000
Six Persimmons, 2019
Acrylic, charcoal, decorative papers, hand stitching, relief printing,
72"h x 51 1/2"w
Price: $27,000
Star Children, 2019
Acrylic, charcoal, decorative papers, fabrics, hand stitching, liquid gold leaf
72"h x 51 1/2"w
Price: $27,000
Works in the I See God in Us series are not only layered in textures and techniques but also in symbolism. The color blue is used throughout in varying shades. The color is a symbol of the night and representative of a magical and spiritual place; a place that is deeply grounded in cultural and oral histories that allow for the acceptance of magic in an otherwise rational world. The women in the works are magical beings that possess the power to transcend their black skin and existence in a spiritual form. Through the weaving of history and storytelling, they offer a new narrative on the power of women.
Working from oral traditions, vintage and family photographs as a source of inspiration; my work explores the power of the narrative impulse. My process of layering various printmaking, drawing, sewing, collaging, and painting techniques allows me to create portraits that fuse the real and the fantastic. In my work, I combine signs and symbols to create a visual language. By fusing this language with oral storytelling, I offer identities and narratives for women of color.
Biography | Resume
Biography
Delita Martin is an artist currently based in Huffman, Texas. She received a BFA in drawing from Texas Southern University and an MFA in printmaking from Perdue University. Formerly a member of the Fine Arts faculty at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Martin currently works as a full-time artist in her studio, Black Box Press.
Working from oral traditions, vintage and family photographs as a source of inspiration, Martin’s work explores the power of the narrative impulse. Her process of layering various printmaking, drawing, sewing collaging and painting techniques allow her to create portrait that fuse the real and the fantastic. In her work, she combines signs and symbols to create visual language. By fusing this visual language with oral storytelling, she offers other identities and other narratives for women of color.
Martin’s work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Most recently, Martin’s work was included in State of the Arts: Discovering American Art Now, an exhibition that included 101 artists from around the United States. She was also included in the International Review of African American Art as one of 16 African American artists to watch, as they are gaining national and international attention in 2015.
Delita Martin–Draw, Paint, Print: The Artist’s Process
Tea with Myrtis: Artistically Speaking with Delita Martin