Jason Martin
British artist Jason Martin takes inspiration from both Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism, making paintings about paint: its materiality, sculptural presence, and transformative, alchemical nature. His work subscribes to the western tradition of gestural painting. Martin produces monochrome oil paintings on an aluminium or stainless steel background upon which the brushstroke becomes the subject of the piece. Colour is the starting point, the background remains saturated sometimes visible, sometimes invisible, through grooves made by the brushstroke. Martin's singular style of working the luxurious surfaces of his monochrome paintings with a purpose-built comb has become well known internationally.
The artist makes his own paintbrushes and in the finished work we see the painter's gestures, sometimes sweeping, sometimes abrupt; the movement becomes the painting and its subject matter. The energy of Martin's process is palpable in the rich swathes of colour applied in thick, fluid, overlaid brushstrokes. Light plays across the sculpted surface echoing the dynamism and vigour of its creation. Martin also produces works in pure pigment – vividly intense, richly emotive, these jewel-like paintings resonate and dominate space.
Solo exhibitions of his work have been presented by Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti in Venice, Le Consortium in Dijon, Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, …
British artist Jason Martin takes inspiration from both Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism, making paintings about paint: its materiality, sculptural presence, and transformative, alchemical nature. His work subscribes to the western tradition of gestural painting. Martin produces monochrome oil paintings on an aluminium or stainless steel background upon which the brushstroke becomes the subject of the piece. Colour is the starting point, the background remains saturated sometimes visible, sometimes invisible, through grooves made by the brushstroke. Martin's singular style of working the luxurious surfaces of his monochrome paintings with a purpose-built comb has become well known internationally.
The artist makes his own paintbrushes and in the finished work we see the painter's gestures, sometimes sweeping, sometimes abrupt; the movement becomes the painting and its subject matter. The energy of Martin's process is palpable in the rich swathes of colour applied in thick, fluid, overlaid brushstrokes. Light plays across the sculpted surface echoing the dynamism and vigour of its creation. Martin also produces works in pure pigment – vividly intense, richly emotive, these jewel-like paintings resonate and dominate space.
Solo exhibitions of his work have been presented by Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti in Venice, Le Consortium in Dijon, Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Es Baluard Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma in Majorca, Kunstverein Kreis Gŭtersloh in Germany, and Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, among others. He has participated in group exhibitions at institutions such as The Royal Academy in London, Reina Sofia in Madrid, and Musée d ́Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
Courtesy of Eduardo Secci
