>> Isabel Martínez Marín

Isabel Martínez Marín

Born Place: Argecilla, Guadalajara Birthdate: 1952 Creative environment: Madrid, Puerto Rico Artist Web Formation:

Classes in artistic drawing, modelling and casting at the Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade] (1975). Courses in Bronze Casting with Lost-Wax Technique with Venancio Blanco (1980). Research grant for new expressive forms. Spanish Ministry of Culture (Madrid, 1981). Sculpture scholarship. Spanish Academy of History, Archaeology and Fine Arts in Rome, Italy (1987). Master's Programme in Fine Arts with specialisation in sculpture, engraving and drawing. (Madrid 2009).

 Awards and Honours:

Mijas Sculpture Award. First and second runner-up. Malaga (1989). Tomás Francisco Prieto (young artist) Modelos para Medallas [Models for Medals]Award. The Royal Mint of Spain. Madrid (1986). Cecilio Béjar Sculpture Award. X Tajo Biennial. Toledo (1984).
  • ABOUT THE ARTIST

With clear intentions to externalise words, concepts and thoughts from a specific moment in time, the work by Isabel Martínez Marín seeks crucial complicity with the observer. Her wish for the public to form part of her creations is fulfilled as soon as the observer begins to ask questions. As such, she achieves the message she wishes to convey in some pieces that, like totems, magnify something that perhaps is not comprehensible, yet is clearly perceived.


In her creative process, mentally prepared from the beginning, improvisation is free to flourish. Thus, this duality manages to build another: in the middle of an apparent compositional balance, a vacuum, an addition, a dissonant shape break the symmetry and a distraction is formed that does not fully rupture the harmony, but rather enriches it.


In doing so, it manages to convey a pursued peace and mix of emotions; one of the aims that the artist herself expressly to achieve with her work. Her training in sculpture, engraving and drawing is translated to bronze pieces with a lot of symbolism, graphic representation, architecture and a simple yet thorough language that captures attention and simultaneously seduces.


COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS


2012. El huerto de Venancio [The Garden of Venancio]. Escuela de Arte La Palma. Madrid.


2001. Capa Esculturas. Brussels.


1995. Seis Escultores [Six Sculptors]. Galería Capa. Madrid.


1987. Spanish Academy of History, Archaeology and Fine Arts. Rome.


1985. Palacio de las Salinas. Salamanca.


1980. Galería Gabas y Estecha. Guadalajara.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS


1993. Intemperies [Outdoor]. Galería Víctor Martín. Madrid.


RECOGNITION


1989. Mijas Sculpture Award. First and second runner-up. Malaga.


1986. Tomás Francisco Prieto (young artist) Modelos para Medallas [Models for Medals]Award. The Royal Mint of Spain. Madrid.


1984. Cecilio Béjar Sculpture Award. X Tajo Biennial. Toledo.


1982. San Blas Sculpture Award. City Council of Madrid.


1980. Award of the Provincial Government of Guadalajara. VI Tajo Biennial. Toledo.


TRAINING


1966-1967. Classes in artistic drawing in the Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade] led by the sculptor José Carrilero.


1975. Classes in Modelling and Casting. Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade].


1980-1985. Classes in Bronze Casting with Lost-Wax Technique with Venancio Blanco Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade]. Assistant to the sculptor Francisco Barón. Work on multiplied pieces using microfusion techniques. Wood- and stone-carving apprenticeship. Photoengraving, engraving and printing with Carmen Corral.


1981. Research grant for new expressive forms. Ministry of Culture. Madrid.


1987. Sculpture scholarship. Spanish Academy of History, Archaeology and Fine Arts in Rome, Italy.


2009. Master's Programme in Fine Arts with specialisation in sculpture, engraving and drawing. Madrid.


Works by Isabel Martínez Marín