Jesus Martinez

Living in Chicago, IL I’m a fine artist specializing in oil and painting. I have been formally trained at the American Academy of Art earning a BFA in oil painting in April 2017. At the Academy, I was educated in traditional media courses, heavily focusing on oil painting. I use this formal background to also focus on editorial illustration and mural work. While developing technical skills, I have been creating large scale paintings with the concept of found home and self-identity. My body of work is a blend of representation and abstract art. I was recently featured at the 2017 Fine Arts juried show at Bill L. Parks Gallery. Currently, I am painting still-lifes comprised of paper and contrasting them with figurative work. Each piece that progresses deals with moments of my life and of those around me in their contemporary with a biographical approach. As my art progresses, being the son of two immigrants from Mexico, it’s causing me to take a liberal stand due to the current involvement of the United States’ aggression towards immigrants.