Dramatic​ ​in​ ​scale​ ​yet​ ​serene​ ​and​ ​introspective,​ ​Kiki​ ​Martinez’s​ ​oil​ ​paintings​ ​are​ ​instantly recognizable​ ​as​ ​her​ ​own.​ ​Achieved​ ​with​ ​a​ ​painstaking​ ​multi-layered​ ​Old​ ​Master​ ​glazing technique,​ ​and​ ​rendered​ ​in​ ​a​ ​moody​ ​sepia-tinged​ ​palette,​ ​her​ ​equine​ ​art​ ​and​ ​animal​ ​portraiture imbue​ ​classic​ ​imagery​ ​with​ ​modern​ ​sophistication.​ ​The​ ​paintings​ ​are​ ​equally​ ​at​ ​home​ ​in​ ​small rooms​ ​and​ ​large,​ ​in​ ​both​ ​rustic​ ​and​ ​dazzlingly​ ​urban​ ​settings.​ ​Appearing​ ​at​ ​first​ ​nearly monochromatic,​ ​the​ ​paintings​ ​are​ ​neither​ ​flat​ ​nor​ ​opaque,​ ​but​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​depth​ ​and​ ​space penetrated​ ​by​ ​reflecting​ ​light.​ ​Horses​ ​gallop​ ​directly​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​canvas​ ​or​ ​quietly​ ​gaze​ ​back​ ​at​ ​the viewer.​ ​Majestic​ ​elk​ ​and​ ​steer​ ​evoke​ ​a​ ​commanding​ ​presence.​ ​More​ ​painterly​ ​than photorealistic,​ ​her​ ​style​ ​combines​ ​carefully​ ​observed​ ​naturalism​ ​with​ ​rich​ ​atmosphere. Martinez​ ​holds​ ​a​ ​Graphic​ ​Arts​ ​and​ ​Economics​ ​degree​ ​from​ ​Smith​ ​College,​ ​and​ ​studied​ ​oil painting​ ​at​ ​the​ ​School​ ​for​ ​Visual​ ​Arts​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York.​ ​Upon​ ​graduation​ ​Martinez​ ​was​ ​hired​ ​by​ ​a Master​ ​Printer​ ​who​ ​had​ ​recognized​ ​her​ ​talents​ ​while​ ​she​ ​was​ ​still​ ​an​ ​undergraduate.​ ​At​ ​his​ ​New York​ ​studio,​ ​Martinez​ ​assisted​ ​in​ ​the​ ​production​ ​of​ ​high-end​ ​lithographic​ ​editions​ ​for​ ​an impressive​ ​roster​ ​of​ ​internationally​ ​renowned​ ​artists.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​an​ ​invaluable​ ​experience​ ​as​ ​she refined​ ​her​ ​own​ ​aesthetic​ ​vision. After​ ​successful​ ​years​ ​in​ ​Manhattan​ ​in​ ​art​ ​and​ ​business,​ ​Martinez​ ​left​ ​New​ ​York​ ​for​ ​the​ ​light​ ​and lifestyle​ ​of​ ​the​ ​American​ ​Southwest.​ ​​ ​“I​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​find​ ​inspiration​ ​for​ ​my​ ​paintings​ ​in​ ​the​ ​rustic setting​ ​of​ ​my​ ​life​ ​in​ ​Santa​ ​Fe​ ​and​ ​also​ ​with​ ​my​ ​very​ ​urban​ ​past​ ​life.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​why​ ​my​ ​paintings​ ​can work​ ​well​ ​in​ ​both​ ​kinds​ ​of​ ​settings.”

Southwest Art

Cowboys & Indians · KNME New Mexico PBS