Mural artist and painter Jet Martinez (covered here) is using his art to carry on an ancient form of visual inspiration while providing a contemporary spin on folk art motifs. For Martinez, each painting is an opportunity to preserve heritage as well as build our living community through creativity and public interactions. Originally from Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico, Martinez attended the San Francisco Art Institute to pursue painting and printmaking. In his current body of work, the artist focuses on a technique of painting floral works inspired by Michoacán lacquered plates – objects crafted by generations of Mexican artisans that has made up a primary industry in the area for generations.
As Martinez pays homage to these integral elements of his cultural identity, his work contains urban references to modern life. Having traveled the world, the artist brings a multicultural narrative to his works that are infused with street art, punk rock, hip hop and a belief that hand crafted objects are a doorway into a universal heritage of creativity. Martinez presently resides in Oakland with his wife and two kids. Get an exclusive look at the artist’s latest works below, debuting on June 6th at Black Book Gallery in Denver, CO.
