Blanca Martinez graduated from NMSU with her Master's in Fine Arts. She uses craft materials and techniques, specifically fiber arts and textiles, as a means to delve into personal stories and relationships. Martinez’s practice explores the intimate relationships among family members and their roles in shaping her identity. Crochet techniques provide a bridge connecting Martinez to older generations, and serve as a medium to address the lack of cultural tradition and values in her upbringing. Martinez creates works inspired by childhood memories of food and familial connection. Martinez crafts soothing bodies of work by way of tufting techniques that invite audiences to interact, evoking a sense of comfort just from the sight of the work's texture. Despite that sense of support which draws a viewer in, each piece contains an underlying meaning of disconnect that resonates with Martinez's past. While in the presence of comfort from her memories, her art creates a reconnection to a disconnected world.

CV

EDUCATION

2021          BFA in Graphic Design, New Mexico State University


AWARDS

2019          Liette (Lola) Martinez Graphic Design Memorial Endowed, New Mexico State University

2020          Liette (Lola) Martinez Graphic Design Memorial Endowed, New Mexico State University

2021          Pink Quarantine, Silver Winner in People Photography-Portrait, Muse Photography Awards

2022           Outstanding Student, Surface Design Association

2023           Frame and Art Award, Juried Student Show, New Mexico State University

2024            Create Outside The Box Award, Juried Student Show, New Mexico State University

2024            College of Arts and Sciences Award winner, Juried Student Show, New Mexico State University


COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

2020          Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium, New Mexico State University, logo design in collaboration with Lena Vasquez

2020          Devastahli Hall Open House Workshops, New Mexico State University, flyer design in collaboration with Brita d’Agostino


SOLO SHOWS

2023           Interwoven, New Mexico State University - Alamogordo Campus, Campus Art Gallery


COLLABORATIVE EXHIBTIONS

2021          BFA Show - DISPOSITIONS, Martinez-Granillo, New Mexico State University, University Art Museum, Co-exhibitors Jiyong Kim, and Jesus Del Rio

2021          Juried Student Show, Pink Quarantine, New Mexico State University, University Art Museum, Juror Leslie Moody Castro

2021          A Matter of Time, Untitled, New Mexico State University, Serafino Student Collaboration Space, Co-exhibitors Donovan Noelle Swan, Ashley Saldana, Katrina Laine, Yashoda Latkar, Jarred Cynor, Bill Moree, Analinda Gonzalez, Bronte Procell

2022          Sweet Rituals and Strange Memories, Family Tree, Casa Otro Residency, Co-exhibitors Ashley Saldana, Yashoda Latkar, Bill Moree, Karly Jean Kainz, Gus Ramirez, Lee Sullivan

2022          Congruent Forms, Lunatics Gallery, Co-exhibitors Ashley Saldana, Yashoda Latkar, Bill Moree, Karly Jean Kainz, Gus Ramirez, Johanna Typaldos, Alfred

2022          Finding Focus, Cav Gallery, Co-exhibitors Anne Q, Bill Moree, Brianna Gonzalez, Carlos Sullivan, Chris MacDonald, Julian Hunting, Runningbear Gabriel Garcia, Yashoda Latkar

2023           Juried Student Show, Caught in the Comfort 2-5, 5-5 series of photographs, New Mexico State University, University Art Museum, Juror Xochi Solis

2024           Juried Student Show, Grandmothers Blanket, New Mexico State University, University Art Museum, Juror Celia Álvarez Muñoz

2024           MFA Thesis Show - Making as Knowing: When I was Here, Thinking of There, New Mexico State University, University Art Museum, Co-exhibitor Karly Jean Kainz


WORKSHOPS

2024           Macrame Building - in Collaboration with Karly Jean Kainz, New Mexico State University, University Art Museum

2024          Loteria Game Nights, New Mexico State University, University Art Museum