Heather Gwen Martin
LIFT, 2012
OIL ON LINEN
72 X 63 IN
Heather Gwen Martin
ARTIST STATEMENT
My paintings are informed by my interests in physiological and cognitive or cerebral responses, and a fascination with that which eludes us about our brains, bodies, and our relationship with the world. Though formal in composition, I seek to portray that which is not readily or easily translated into written language; the response to thought fragments, memories, humor, and resonances—the transference of energy. more
I am intrigued that paintings work on two very basic levels: a primary involuntary physical response—an immediate response not consciously processed, and a secondary more conscious and cerebral response—one where the physical may be triggered by the immediacy of bold color contrasts, vibration between colors, and instances of afterimages.
This particular interest in perception and visual processing points to a focused concern on the understanding of abstraction, relating to composition with the nuance of shapes and relationships between forms that leads to making connections and associations from within the painting itself or from external influences. As the response to my paintings reverberate from real and imagined instances where disparate forces come together for but brief moments, they function as a means of communication and an experience in physical reality not obstructed, altered, or interrupted by technology and artificial/non-physical interaction.
PRESS
Thirteen Questions for Heather Gwen Martin, Artweek.LA, march 21, 2012 Heather Gwen Martin, Artillery - Killer Text on Art Heather Gwen Martin, Art Limited, July 2010 Heather Gwen Martin, ArtScene, 2010 Letter From Los Angeles - Part 2, SquareCylinder.com, October 3, 2010 2010 Top 10 LA Art Shows, CultureMob, December 15, 2010 Truffle Hunting, October 5, 2010 Recreational Systems - Critical Reviews
Born 1977, Saskatchewan, Canada
Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA
EDUCATION
2001 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1999 University of California, San Diego, BA, Honors, Highest Distinction in Visual Arts
RECENT SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013
TBA, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (September)
2011
New Work, Pulse Fair, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, New York, NY
2010
Recreational Systems, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, Santa Monica, CA
RECENT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2013
Rogue Wave, LA Louver, Venice, CA
Paradox Maintenance Technicians, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
Theatrical Dynamics, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
MAS Attack, LA Mart, Los Angeles, CA
2012
The Very Large Array, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA
Painting on Edge II, Den Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2011
Two Person Presentation, Pulse Fair, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, Miami, FL
Lucky 13, MKG benefitting Rice University Art Gallery, Houston, TX
Welcome to Anywhere, Southwestern College Art Gallery, Chula Vista, CA
2010
Here Not There, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Seven Person Show, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, Santa Monica, CA
New Contemporaries III, Project X Art, Solana Beach, CA
