ABOUT THE ARTIST

Born in Jersey City and raised in Highland Park, New Jersey, Martin began creating art at the age of seven. His only formal lessons came at eleven and thirteen, yet his natural observation of people and emotion soon became his lifelong study. Influenced by artists such as Alonzo Adams, Ruth Mayer, Frank Morrison, Kadir Nelson, and Judy Larson, he developed a signature style rooted in human connection, music, and realism.

Martin earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Rutgers University, where he also completed a Doctorate in Psychology. His advanced study of human emotion and interpersonal connection profoundly shapes his art, infusing his portraits and family scenes with psychological depth and empathy.

A minor in Africana Studies further enriched his perspective, immersing him in Black American and African cultural traditions that resonate through his use of movement, symbolism, and color. His family’s deep roots in music also echo throughout his art—seen in the flowing compositions and dynamic movement that mirror melody and rhythm. After relocating to California, Martin expanded his focus to luminous coastal and mountain landscapes inspired by the natural beauty of the West.

Martin’s portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is on permanent display at Rutgers University, and his commissioned works are held in the private collections of prominent patrons.