A KEYCHAIN FULL OF TOOLS
JOHN MARTIN

Opening Reception: Saturday January 25th, 6 – 9 pm
Exhibition Dates: January 25th – February 29th, 2020

Born 1963, Marks, Mississippi

Has practiced at Creative Growth since 1987

John Martin creates drawings from memories of time spent with his family on their Arkansas farm. John’s signature imagery makes his work instantly recognizable: trucks, snakes, pocket knives, and cell phones, as well as an occasional item from his collection of discarded valuables found on the street. Through his extraordinary imagination, John transforms everyday objects into talismans of sharp-toothed animals and goofy characters. His early, genre-based work is depicted in lively colors that cover the entire surface of the paper. John’s style has recently become more refined and minimal, often depicting just the outlines of objects. John also works easily in both wood and ceramic. His pieces both mimic functionality in their form, while subverting practicality through his outrageous animal mash-ups, larger-than-life Leatherman tools, and mysterious signifiers. In 2014, John was invited by Facebook to create a site-specific artwork as part of the inaugural Artist In Residence (AIR) program at the new Frank Gehry-designed Facebook campus.