Jet martinez biography

The core of my practice stems from my interest in locating folk art’s

place in a globalized world. I seek to create a multi-cultural dialogue that

explores the consistencies of visual culture throughout time, beginning

with ancient artisans and extending to contemporary artists.

I was

convinced from an early age growing up in Cuernavaca, Mexico that

communities can be sustained through art making. Like the craftspeople

who integrate life into the creation of ceramics and textiles—nothing

less than a certain form of magic—I embrace the imperfections of the

hand-made, the organic forms and vibrant colors which have the

power to remove the individual identity of the artist in favor of a more

universal expression of “folk art.”

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By uniting the imagery of traditional Mexican folk art with the vernacular

of urban contemporary art, I’m trafficking in the nuanced relationship

between artistic tradition an