Traci Wright Martin

#hashtagartmag @tracimartinstudios #contemporaryrealism #mixedmediaartwork #charcoalart

#statement I create portrait and figurative work in

charcoal realism, often with a combination of added mixed media elements.

#bio

Traci Wright Martin is a contemporary portrait and figurative artist working in Greenville, South Carolina. After a time working as an arts administrator and curator, Martin has spent recent years honing her skills in charcoal realism as a full-time studio artist. Her technique and vision for the combination of charcoal and mixed media abstraction have established a unique creative identity that continues to evolve. As an emerging artist, her work has recently earned a number of top awards and accolades in juried shows, both regional and national. Her charcoal portrait commissions are featured in private and public collections, both internationally and across the US.

#concept

Over the last few years, I’ve been building the main narrative in my work within the idea of representation. Some time ago, I began to see symbolism in the often overlooked moth for the more popular butterfly. Not only do I find them fascinating to include in a composition, but I really saw the chance to visually communicate an important theme with the moth. Through different series, I have been advocating for the underrepresented. In one series, I have been creating visual conversations about women artists of the past that should be household names. In another, I focus on subjects of different ages and ethnicities and body types to explore layers of content related to our current cultural climate.

#breakthrough

Over the last few years, I have really worked hard to challenge myself through the exploration of mixed media. After finding success in the Oklahoma and Texas markets, I decided to face my fears and enter my first call for a juried show in NYC in the fall of 2019. It was my first step towards a major goal. My piece “Automeris Io, for Yayoi Kusama� was juried in, and wound up winning the 3rd place award. The jurors were Hyeseung Marriage-Song, Beverly McNeil, and Patricia Watwood, all women whose work I admire tremendously.

I shed tears of pride at this accomplishment. It was a huge honor and it really helped me turn a corner in my career.

#career

After graduating with my art degree, I went right to work in arts administration at a non-profit art center. I slowly worked my way up to curator of the art collection and the incredible shows that came through the multiple galleries. After some time there, I decided to open a small gallery and studio with a partner. I managed rotating exhibits of regional artists and worked extensively in commissioned portraits there for about four years. I did a few artist residencies in Oklahoma, Oregon, Alaska, and Arizona. During my last years living in Oklahoma, I moved to a home studio and spent time teaching drawing. I moved to Greenville, SC two years ago and spent my first year just creating work in my home studio. In March of this year, I opened The Bank Building Studios with three other women in our local arts district.

#community

Becoming a member of the PA community has provided me with the opportunity to discover and learn from many other figurative artists and mentors in the contemporary realism genre. While I worked thoroughly in the local and regional markets where I have lived, I am a new and emerging artist into the larger market. I needed a platform to connect with collectors and guide me to the best exhibit opportunities on an international level. I’m so grateful for the community during this time of career growth, and I look forward to growing my audience and participating in a fantastic lineup of future shows.

All artworks are mixed media on paper. Find out more by following Traci Wright Martin at Artsy and Instagram #traciwrightmartin.