DELITA MARTIN: SPIRITUAL REALM

Delita Martin is an American multimedia artist based in Huffman, Texas. She was born in Conroe, Texas, in 1972. Martin knew that she would be an artist ever since she was a child because she was raised with visual arts all around her. Her father was a carpenter and painter, which is why creativity was something she was accustomed to seeing from a very young age.

Delita studied at the Texas Southern University in Houston, where she received her BFA in drawing. She then went to Purdue University, where she earned her MFA in print marketing. After her studies were over, Delita began to teach at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock in their fine arts department.

A couple of years later, in 2008, she left her lecturing job and opened up her Black Box Press studio. This was when Martin's career as an independent artist skyrocketed. Since then, she has showcased her art both nationally and internationally. Her works of art have been featured in Havana Biennial and Art Basel Miami. Her work also permanently resides in studios, such as the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Bradbury Art Museum, Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American-Art, and so many more.

Delita Martin's art is truly unique and can be best described as a form of storytelling wherein she gives a voice to Black women who have often been marginalized. Her art includes the use of symbolism, such as using moons to represent women. Martin's art embodies various West African influences that connect the mortal world with the spiritual world. It is safe to say that one of her major influences is certainly African aesthetics from Black culture. Her other sources of inspiration are vintage photographs, oral traditions, and family photographs of African American people.

Moreover, Delita Martin has earned several awards, including the Telly Award, Barbara Deming Emerging Voices Award, and the Bruce J. and Sharon Goodman Merit Award.

Due to her learning in university, Martin has created unique ways to layer her art through drawing, sewing, collaging, printmaking, and painting. She also makes use of signs and symbols to create unique patterns and designs. This helps her create images, narratives, and identities for women of color in her art. Her process of creating art includes printing large-scale images and then printing, coloring, and painting over them.

Her most recent work was featured in State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now. The exhibition included 101 artists from around the United States, including Martin. She was also featured in the International Review of African American Art as one of sixteen African American artists to watch her gaining more and more popularity.

 Delita Martin is certainly one of the most popular emerging African American artists who have now been gaining more popularity for their unique pieces. This is why her work has been featured in various exhibitions all over America and in the world. Her work can be seen at her studio, which is where you can even get in touch with her.