EXHIBITION DATES:
MAY 7 – JUNE 4
SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS:
1331 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Subliminalprojects.com
THE FUTURE, Shantell Martin’s site-specific installation and exhibition at Subliminal Projects, is based on a 27-point manifesto. Martin wrote the manifesto for the future of the art industry. In conjunction with the opening of the exhibition, Martin and gallery founder, artist Shepard Fairey, released a collaborative limited edition letterpress print, which is now sold out.
Creating and appreciating art is uniquely intrinsic to the human experience. The cultural value of art has
evolved under the weight of societal classism, forcing us collectively to ask; What and who is art for?
Martin’s manifesto is “a hope, a wish, and an encouragement for everyone to look deeper into how we
support artists, how we protect artists, how we empower artists, and how we value art and the artists who dedicate their lives to their craft.”
Shepard Fairey comments, “Shantell Martin’s use of line and language as a way to conjure a sense of
relationship and connection functions like a Rorschach test, but is a much more elegant use of black ink as the primary tool. Martin’s art is often physically interactive, but it is always psychologically interactive by engaging the viewer’s sense of relationship and possibility.”
The exhibition features a new series of drawings on paper, canvas, bottles, and textile, displayed in Martin’s signature site-specific installation method of utilizing the entirety of the space. Martin designed the space for reflection of the present and hope for the future of art. From vinyl flooring to ceiling-high murals on the walls, Martin invites the viewer to experience these meditative manifesto points as they walk through the gallery, and mindfully converse with the artwork and the space around them. Martin concludes, “I hope that the show is a gift to everyone to question, explore, and delight in this shared human experience.”
ABOUT SHANTELL MARTIN
Shantell Martin is a visual artist, intuitive philosopher, cultural facilitator, teacher, choreographer,
songwriter, performer, and more. Her practice continuously pushes the boundaries of creative expression through thoughtful, innovative collaborations with artists, cultural institutions such as The Whitney Museum Shop, NYC; Denver Art Museum, Pulitzer Prize-winning performance artist Kendrick Lamar, acclaimed designer Kelly Wearstler, The Boston Ballet, and brands such as The North Face, Google Creative Labs, and B&B Italia.
ABOUT SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS
Subliminal Projects is a multi-functional project space and gallery established by Shepard Fairey and Blaize Blouin in 1995 as a way to introduce skateboard culture and design to the art world. The concept grew and found roots later in Los Angeles when many artists found themselves shut out by the “art scene.”
Subliminal Projects emerged as a gallery that championed emerging and marginalized artists, built out of
cultural importance to serve as a center for the community to openly express and spark dialogue about art, music, and activism. Now located in the historic neighborhood of Echo Park, Subliminal Projects continues to offer a platform for artistic exploration and innovation.
Written by Jacqueline Chambers
Jacqueline Chambers is the founder of TGIFguide. She uses her innate skills as a natural “connector” to serve businesses, brands and individuals in the LA area and beyond.
