Exhibitions

Visibility: Seeing and Being Seen

 

Delita Martin, born in Conroe, Texas, is a contemporary artist living and working in Huffman, Texas. She received her BFA in drawing from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. She then completed her graduate work at Purdue University where she received an MFA in 2009 with an
emphasis in Printmaking, Drawing, Mixed Media, and Installation. Formally a member of the fine arts faculty at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Martin is currently working as a full-time artist in her studio, Black Box Press.


Martin’s work explores the beauty and complexity of spiritual identities, primarily working from oral traditions, along with vintage and family photographs as a source of inspiration. Through her mixed-media
printmaking practice, which includes the layering of various printmaking processes, drawing, painting, collaging, and hand-stitching, she celebrates their strength and resilience in a world that often overlooks or devalues African American Women. She uses patterns, texture, and color, to create
immersive veilscapes (spirit worlds), that are deeply personal yet accessible to viewers. Her layering of technique signifies a liminal space – the space between the waking life and the spirit life. Martin’s distinctive style combines elements of realism, abstractions, and symbolism, creating bold and beautiful portraits of Black Women as they transition between the spirit world and the waking world. She continues to explore the complex
layers of identity and experiences, celebrating the powerful legacy of African American Women.


Martin served has as 2021 keynote speaker for the Mid America Print Council and keynote speaker and organizer of Presidential Panel at the Southern Graphics Council International (SGCI) Annual Conference in 2024. Her work has exhibited both nationally and internationally,
participating in 25 solo exhibitions and included in over 60 group exhibitions
throughout the United States, and internationally in Cuba, Denmark, Portugal, London, Italy, Germany, and India. Notably, her work exhibited in the 2022 Venice Biennale, National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, DC and welcomed into the Library of Congress.

Portrait of artist Delita Martin

Delita Martin

Social Media: @blackboxpress

Website: https://blackboxpressstudio.com/

Exhibition Statement

In an age where information flows incessantly and images dominate our screens, the concept of visibility takes on profound significance. Visibility: Seeing and Being Seen delves into the multifaceted nature of being seen, both in the physical and metaphorical sense. This exhibition seeks to explore and challenge the boundaries of visibility through the lens of printmaking, a medium intrinsically tied to the act of making marks visible.

The artworks presented in this exhibition navigate the realms of identity, presence, and perception. Each piece reveals unique narratives and perspectives, emphasizing the power of printmaking to amplify voices and stories that might otherwise remain unseen. From intricate etchings and bold screen prints to delicate lithographs and experimental monotypes, the diversity of techniques reflects the myriad ways artists engage with and interpret visibility.

Visibility is not merely about the act of seeing; it is also about recognition and acknowledgment. In a world where marginalized communities often struggle for visibility, this exhibition highlights works that bring forward issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social justice. These prints serve as powerful tools for advocacy and reflection, urging viewers to reconsider who is seen and who remains invisible in our societies.

Furthermore, Visibility addresses the environmental impact of human activity on our planet. Some works in the exhibition confront the visibility of nature and the environment, making poignant statements about the consequences of human actions on our ecosystems. Through these prints, hidden layers of the natural world are revealed, drawing attention to both its beauty and fragility.

As you view these works, consider the layers of meaning behind each print. Observe how the artists manipulate light, shadow, texture, and color to bring their subjects into focus. Reflect on your own perceptions of visibility and invisibility in your daily life.

Visibility: Seeing and Being Seen invites you to look beyond the surface, to uncover the stories that lie beneath, and to recognize the profound impact of seeing and being seen. Through the power of printmaking, we celebrate the diversity of human experience and the enduring quest for recognition and understanding in our shared world.

 

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Graphic Impressions is published by SGC International. SGC International is an educational non-profit organization committed to informing our membership about issues and processes concerning original prints, drawings, book arts, and handmade paper.

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