Cristina Martinez is experiencing a breakthrough moment in her artistic career. The visual artist recently achieved a sold-out show at TASWIRA Gallery. Her work now debuts at Seattle Art Fair through an exclusive collection acquisition.
Additionally, Martinez completed a significant mural collaboration with the Mexican consulate. These three accomplishments mark a new high point in her journey. The projects reflect her evolution from fashion illustrator to respected fine artist.
From Fashion School to Fine Art Success
Six years ago, Martinez was designing clothes and sketching runway silhouettes. She believed fashion illustration was her destined path. Then something fundamental shifted in her creative practice.
Her lines started telling deeper stories beyond garment construction. Color palettes began to breathe with emotional resonance. The canvas became her clearest mirror for self-expression.
“My fashion figures just became people to me,” Martinez explained. “They had whole stories and backgrounds, and in my brain I knew who they were.” She realized her true passion lay in storytelling through painting and illustration.
Celebrating Black and Mexican Heritage Through Art
Martinez’s dual heritage as a Black and Mexican woman shapes her artistic vision. She navigates both identities authentically in her creative practice. This authenticity defines her approach to every project.
“I try to paint as authentically as possible,” she says. “I want my work to be a direct reflection of who I am and nothing less.” Her work refuses to prioritize one cultural identity over another.
“I’m honored that the community here has decided to include my perspective being Black and Mexican,” Martinez noted. She appreciates spaces where she can express experiences from both cultures. “I’m always grateful for the spaces where I can go in and I can show up as myself.”
The Water Me Series: Art Born From Necessity
Martinez’s “Water Me” series resonated with audiences around the world. She created these pieces from quick sketches on sticky notes. The drawings happened during her desk job at a radiology clinic.
“I would challenge myself,” Martinez recalled about those early sketches. She drew one-line figures without lifting her pen each morning. The practice expressed her daily emotional state authentically.
The series depicts women with petals falling from their eyes. Vines grow from their bodies in powerful imagery. These pieces blend intimacy with strength inherited from women in her family.
From Post-It Notes to Canvas Success
Martinez accumulated hundreds of yellow Post-it note sketches at her desk job. She initially hesitated to share them publicly. “If anyone ever saw these, they would think I was a psycho,” she joked.
She finally painted one sketch on canvas to test audience response. The reaction surprised and moved her deeply. People saw themselves reflected in the vulnerable imagery.
“This is something I created out of a space of true necessity,” Martinez explained. The series documents significant life moments including her best friend’s 2018 death. “Other people could feel those things too,” she discovered.
Understanding Art’s True Impact and Purpose
Martinez’s creative focus evolved significantly over her career. Initially, she concentrated on creating aesthetically pleasing pictures. She experimented with color and technique without deeper intention.
“I didn’t understand early on how necessary art is and how impactful it can be,” she admitted. Art became a tool for telling greater stories. The shift transformed her entire approach.
“Now at this point, I like to create things and I hope that people think they’re beautiful,” Martinez said. “But if you understand the message, to me, that is what my job is as an artist.” Storytelling completely took over her creative practice.
Sold-Out Success at TASWIRA Gallery
Martinez’s collaboration with TASWIRA Gallery marked a significant milestone. Young gallerist Avery Barnes provided her first real gallery experience. The show sold out completely.
“It was just a divine timing in my life,” Martinez reflected on the success. The experience created hope and optimism for her artistic future. It opened doors to additional opportunities.
Martinez gravitates toward collaborators starting something new. “When our joint thirst and hunger for making something happen for ourselves comes together, magical things can happen,” she explained. Barnes had just moved into a new gallery location.
Seattle’s Growing Art Scene and Community
Martinez describes Seattle’s contemporary art scene as actively growing. She feels optimistic about its future direction. First Thursday art walks continue expanding with each event.
Early in her career, creative projects required traveling to LA or New York. Recently, exciting opportunities emerged locally in Seattle. This shift feels comforting and validating for her.
“I think there’s a unique experience here, especially being a black artist,” Martinez noted. The journey involves constantly figuring out how to engage audiences. “But, I think that we are getting to a space where eventually we will be a place that has a large creative influence.”
Museums as the Ultimate Goal
Martinez’s larger career goal involves placement in major museums. She remembers childhood museum visits where she couldn’t see herself reflected. That absence motivated her current mission.
“To be on that journey now, and be able to be one of those people that will create different experiences for people that are younger than me,” she said. Art fairs, museums, and galleries represent her main objectives.
Her Seattle Art Fair debut felt particularly meaningful. The experience moves her closer to that ultimate museum goal. Each exhibition builds toward creating more inclusive art spaces.
Navigating Gallery Relationships and Creative Freedom
Martinez initially shared common artist concerns about gallery restrictions. Her perspective evolved through positive collaborative experiences. She approaches each opportunity cautiously but optimistically.
“I go into situations very hesitant and cautious,” she admitted. However, her TASWIRA Gallery experience changed her outlook. The success created hope for future gallery partnerships.
“I think having that urgency to create and that feeling that, ‘I was supposed to do this,'” Martinez explained. “That’s the part I try to focus on.” She knows painting is her purpose and figures out logistics along the way.
Collaboration With Husband and Fellow Artists
Martinez’s husband opened her eyes to meaningful artistic collaboration. Before their relationship, she rarely worked with other artists. He taught her how joining stories creates powerful impact.
“We always joke and say ‘it’s the easiest part of our relationship,'” Martinez shared. “But it truly is.” They’ve created large paintings together even during personal conflicts. Painting serves as their shared love language.
“When two people turn to canvas to express themselves, there’s no real words for it,” she explained. Their creative partnership flows effortlessly regardless of relationship dynamics. Collaboration now influences all her artistic pursuits.
Maintaining Authenticity in Brand Partnerships
Martinez has partnered with several reputable brands throughout her career. She prioritizes authenticity when evaluating corporate collaborations. If projects don’t align with her values, she declines.
“With the big brands I try to ask for the limitations up front,” Martinez explained. “Just tell me what I can and can’t do.” Clear boundaries help her determine alignment quickly.
“If something isn’t going to work, I can feel it in my spirit before I even do it,” she noted. She refuses to create work lacking genuine, authentic storytelling. This principle holds firm even when raising three children creates financial pressure.
Balancing Art Career With Motherhood
Martinez and her husband Al-baseer both work as full-time artists. This creates an interesting dynamic for their family. Their children grow up immersed in creative processes.
“Things that are normal for them are maybe not normal for other people,” Martinez observed. Her 2-year-old naturally grabs paints and brushes in the studio. The children imitate their parents with colored pencils instead of computers.
“It’s hard at times. You have to be spontaneous, you have to be flexible,” she admitted. However, bringing children to sets provides valuable exposure. They meet photographers, videographers, and stylists who look like them.
Creating Representation for the Next Generation
Martinez and her husband prioritize creating art that resonates with young people. They joke about institutional acceptance being secondary to youth impact. “As long as these kids think we’re cool and the youth understand what we’re painting,” she said.
“They’re going to be the ones that decide what art was impactful when we’re long gone,” Martinez noted. If their art speaks to younger generations, they’ve succeeded. This perspective guides their creative choices.
Growing up, Martinez only saw Bob Ross representing artists on television. He didn’t look like her, making art feel unattainable. Now she creates the representation she never had as a child.
Mexican Consulate Mural: A Cultural Homecoming
The mural collaboration with the Mexican consulate feels deeply personal. It aligns perfectly with how Martinez sees her identity reflected in art. The project honors both her Black and Mexican heritage.
Martinez was raised by the Mexican side of her family. However, she knew early on the world saw her as a Black woman. She refuses to pretend to be more of one thing or less of another.
“I just take the influence and the things that were part of my upbringing and put them into my work,” she explained. The consulate mural represents this authentic integration of cultural experiences. It validates her dual identity through public art.
Living a Blessed Creative Life
Martinez reflects on her current life with deep gratitude and appreciation. She balances multiple roles as artist, mother, and wife. The combination creates both challenges and profound fulfillment.
“In the end, I feel so blessed to be living this life and living it with my family,” she stated. Her career allows her to express herself while raising children. The creative bubble they’ve built sustains the entire family.
Her journey from fashion school to fine art success inspires emerging artists. Martinez proves that authentic storytelling creates lasting impact. Her work reshapes how audiences see themselves and their possibilities.
