Shantell Martin effortlessly brings life to various mediums with her distinctive trademark linework, utilizing a simple yet captivating blend of black ink on white surfaces. From walls to found objects, ceramics, toys, sneakers, and even the faces and bodies of participants and passersby, Martin weaves her own visual narrative in each piece. Notably, she becomes the first artist associated with the Albright-Knox’s Public Art Initiative to simultaneously install her works both in the museum and in the community.
With generous support from the University at Buffalo’s Creative Arts Initiative grant, Martin collaborated closely with the AK Public Art team, University at Buffalo students, and representatives from the East Side community. Together, they identified the perfect location for a permanent mural, thanks to the core efforts of talented UB graduate students. Their work yielded a dynamic matrix of potential locations across Buffalo’s vibrant East Side, setting the stage for future engaging public art endeavors.
By happy coincidence, Dance Everyday finds its place just steps away from Albright-Knox Northland.