Erick Martinez is a figurative sculptor fascinated by the human figure and the complexity of emotions. He began his art journey in 2019 after moving to The United States from Bogotá, Colombia. Life experiences inspire his artwork. His sculptures seek to transmit that all emotions have a purpose, even those labeled as negative.
His sculptures have been exhibited in galleries in Oregon and Washington State. He currently lives in Oregon, where he is pursuing a career in human services and addiction counseling.
I want to show that every life has a tremendous amount of joy, love, confusion, as well as pain and loss. I want to convey that all emotions - positive or negative - are a part of the human experience
MY ART SEEKS TO EXPRESS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services, Clark College, 2023
A.A Addiction Counselor Education, Clark College, Vancouver, WA, 2021
Business Administration Technician, S.E.N.A., Bogota, Colombia, 2014
EXHIBITION HISTORY
OPA Ceramic Showcase, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, 2024
Shapes that Speak, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2024
Feeling Your Way Through: Growing up in a Multicultural Household, Finding Purpose, Being Human, Multnomah Cultural Center, Portland, OR, 2024
2023 Chehalem Ceramic Studio Juried Exhibition, Chehalem Cultural Center, Newberg, 2023
November Show, Blind Insect Gallery, Portland, OR, 2023
Where Are We Going? And What Will We Do When We Get There? Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2022
Sculpture Showcase, Oregon Society of Artists, Portland, OR, 2023
June Show, Sidestreet Arts, Portland, OR, 2023
OPA Ceramic Showcase, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, 2023
Pushing Boundaries, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2022
Oregon Potters Association Fall Fair, Cornell Farm, Portland, OR, 2022
All Forgeries are Intentional, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2022
Abstract Realities, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2022
Ancestral Echoes, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2021
SWA Spring Show, Camas Gallery, Camas, WA, 2021
All About Love, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2021
SWA Fall Show, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA, 2020
Art Student Annual, Archer Gallery, Vancouver, WA, 2020
Art Student Annual, Archer Gallery, Vancouver, WA, 2019
Art Student Annual, Archer Gallery, Vancouver, WA, 2018
PUBLICATIONS
Clark College Art & Literary Journal, Phoenix Vol. 44, 2024
Clark College Art & Literary Journal, Phoenix Vol. 43, 2023
Clark College Art & Literary Journal, Phoenix Vol. 42, 2022
Washington Clay Association, Poster, 2022
Clark College Art & Literary Journal, Phoenix Vol. 41, 2021
"Ancestral Echoes” at Vancouver’s Art at the CAVE tells family stories, The Columbian, 2021
Clark College Art & Literary Journal, Phoenix Vol. 40, 2020
Clark College Art & Literary Journal, Phoenix Vol. 39, 2019
AWARDS
2023, Sculpture Showcase, Oregon Society of Artists, Portland, OR
2021, People’s choice SWA Spring Show, Camas Gallery, Camas, WA
2020, First Place SWA Fall Show, Art at the Cave, Vancouver, WA
MANIFESTO
The purpose of art is abundant, just as its definitions. Some artists seek to capture the beauty of nature, others highlight the beauty of the ordinary, while others use art to communicate, challenge, or express an idea. I think art is highly shaped by the artist's beliefs, life experiences, and the artist's art definition. My definition is that art is the highest expression of what it means to be human, a complex creature that dreams, suffers, and feels with intensity. My sculptures intend to capture the whole spectrum of what it means to be alive. I want to communicate that a good life is not one exempt from pain; a good life is one where hardship helps us be a kinder and a better version of ourselves. I want to convey that negative emotions are universal and an expected part of being alive rather than something that should be numbed or avoided. After all, negative emotions are reduced when we directly experience and engage in them rather than endlessly avoid them.
