Lilian Martinez
Lilian Martinez (b. 1986, Chicago, IL) lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. S. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, most recently with Ochi Projects, Los Angeles The Naughton Gallery, Belfast, Ireland and Commune, Tokyo, Japan
Martinez’ work explores alternate histories where women, particularly women of color, are not excluded from specific cultural narratives typically associated with privilege. Through her paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, Martinez blends past with present and future, combining classical architectural elements with contemporary pop cultural references to create the settings for her portraits, landscapes, and still lifes. Her flat, bold style recalls iconic predecessors like Matisse, while her subject matter prioritizes brown bodies that have been heretofore omitted from these kinds of images.