Art
#Delita Martin #mixed media #portraits #engraving
“Blue Stars” (2020), relief print, charcoal, acrylic, liquid gold leaf, decorative papers, hand sewing. All images © Delita Martin, shared with permission
“Duality is the idea that there are two realms in (the) spirit world,” Delita Martin explains, “one that is visible and one that is invisible.” This coupling is a fundamental force for the artist who practices an alchemy of spirit and aesthetics, cajoling dynamic figures from a mixture of motifs, materials and symbols.
Through a living work entitled Conjure, Martin explores what it means to be empowered as a black woman and to embrace “the veiled landscape”, a spiritual world in which the invisible, the absence of racism and sexism, transformation and ancestral connection prevail. The artist refers to this space as an “immaterial reality” and returns to it again and again layering his relief printed portraits with charcoal, acrylic, gold leaf and threaded detail.
“Resting Place” (2020), charcoal, acrylic, decorative papers, hand sewing
Although this conceptual layer remains in all of Martin’s works, his extensive use of symbols changes with each portrait. It could feature a bird in full flight, as in “Flying (Feather Skirt)”, for example, to convey an unrestricted spirit, or a full flock tied to a subject’s shoulders as in “Feathers” to communicate experience. to be attached to another. Recurring in different forms on clothing or backdrops, the circles are equally evocative as they refer to the connection between the divine feminine and the moon. The color, too, is iconic. She shares:
Although I don’t subscribe to any particular color theory, I strongly believe that color causes a reaction and can connect with the human mind. For my own purposes, colors like red and orange convey fiery energy, and blue is very calming and actually connects more closely to the spirit world in my work than any other color. I tend to favor the blues the most in my work. Yellows and golds are what I consider outdoor colors that refer to the earth, colors that are closely tied to the waking world. Greens I connect with nature and growth. Purples/burgundy that I associate with mystery and time.
Acrylic washes or fragments of colored patterns blur the distinction between body and environment, emphasizing the coexistence of the physical and spiritual worlds and reminding the viewer that a part of oneself always remains invisible and hidden behind the veil.
Martin, who is based in Huffman, Texas, and represented by Galerie Myrtis, will show new portraits this month at the Tiwani Contemporary in London and is teaching a printmaking course in Salzburg in July. find more Conjure and other works on his site and Instagram.
LEFT: “Seated Woman (Golden Stool)” (2020), rrelief printing, charcoal, acrylic, decorative papers, hand sewing. Right: “Claiming What Has Risen” (2020), relief print, charcoal, fabric, decorative papers, hand sewing, acrylic
“Feathers” (2020), charcoal, acrylic, relief print, decorative papers, liquid silver foil, hand sewing
“Flying (Feather Skirt)” (2020), relief print, charcoal, acrylic, fabric, decorative papers, hand sewing
Left: “Offerings” (2020), relief print, charcoal, decorative papers, hand sewing, acrylic, liquid gold leaf. LAW: “Mirrors and sky” (2020), rrelief printing, charcoal, acrylic, decorative papers, hand sewing
“The Moon Now Rises” (2020), relief print, charcoal, acrylic, decorative papers, hand sewing
Martin at work in his studio in Huffman, Texas
#Delita Martin #mixed media #portraits #engraving
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a colossal member today and support independent art publishing for as little as $5 a month. You’ll connect with a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, read ad-free articles and newsletters, support our interview series, get discounts and early access to our in-edition print versions limited, and more. Join now!
