John Martin

Born 1963, Marks, Mississippi
Has practiced at Creative Growth since 1987

John Martin creates drawings, ceramics, and woodwork that synthesize his memories of a family farm in Mississippi with his modern life in Oakland. Martin commonly depicts images of trucks, snakes, pocket knives, cell phones and other items from his collection of found objects, which have informed his oeuvre since 1987 when he joined Creative Growth’s studio. His interpretations both describe their function and subvert practicality through his outrageous animal mash-ups, oversized Leatherman tools, and mysterious text. Fish become knives, alligators become saws, John himself becomes a Nokia phone, a multi-tool is splayed open to reveal a grinning shark. His wry sense of humor is evident in all of his compositions, translating utilitarian imagery into a graphic and animated aesthetic. In 2014, Martin was invited to create a site-specific installation as part of Facebook’s inaugural Artist In Residence program at the Frank Gehry-designed campus in Palo Alto.

John Martin crea dibujos, cerámica y trabajos en madera que sintetizan sus recuerdos de una granja familiar en Mississippi con su vida moderna en Oakland. Martin comúnmente representa imágenes de camiones, serpientes, navajas, teléfonos celulares y otros artículos de su colección de objetos encontrados, que han informado su obra desde 1987, cuando se unió al estudio de Creative Growth. Sus interpretaciones describen su función y subvierten la practicidad a través de escandalosas mezclas de animales, herramientas de Leatherman de gran tamaño y texto misterioso. Los peces se convierten en cuchillos, los lagartos se convierten en sierras, el propio John se convierte en un teléfono Nokia, una multiherramienta se abre para revelar un tiburón sonriente. Su irónico sentido del humor es evidente en todas sus composiciones, traduciendo imágenes utilitarias en una estética gráfica y animada. En el 2014, Martin fue invitado a crear una instalación específica del sitio como parte del programa inaugural de Artista en Residencia de Facebook en el campus diseñado por Frank Gehry en Palo Alto.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2021
John Martin, solo exhibition, pt.2 Gallery, Oakland
The Nostalgia Show, online exhibition, Sage Studio, Austin
Vibrant, Nina Johnson Gallery, Miami
Can’t Beat California, Golestani Gallery, Düsseldorf

2020
Outsider Art Fair, New York
A Keychain Full of Tools, solo exhibition, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco

2019
The Creative Commons, ArtYard, Frenchtown
Outsider Art Fair, New York
Gifted: The Self-Taught Genius of Creative Growth, Nina Johnson Gallery, Miami, curated by Kim Hastreiter

2018
NADA, New York
Art is for Everyone, Telegraph Hill Gallery, San Francisco
Visual Oasis: Works from Creative Growth, Carson City San Francisco Art Book Fair, San Francisco
Issue 3, Good Luck Gallery, Los Angeles
John Martin’s Toolbox, solo exhibition, Institute 193 (1B), New York

2017
Outsider Art Fair, New York

2016
Duvel Moortgat Fund, Madmusée, Liege, Belgium
Take A Seat, St. Supery Estate Vineyard and Winery, Napa Valley, curated by Topher Delaney
Celebrating a Vision: Art and Disability, SFO Museum, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco

2013
Multi-tools, Institute 193, Lexington, curated by Chase Martin
Undercover Genius, Petaluma Arts Center, Petaluma
Margins to Mainstream, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa
Almost Home, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco
Park Life, San Francisco

2012
Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Korea Independent Art Fair, New York
Outsider Art Fair, New York

2011
Exhibition #4, Museum of Everything, London