Artist Mary Ancilla Martinez finds inspiration in themes exploring a variety of predominantly feminine archetypes. She works using fairy tales, folk tales, myths and legends from around the world, as well as nature and her own life experiences. Currently living in Torrance, California, Martinez enjoys painting mystical, wild, free, ethereal places where unseen greets seen. She finds satisfaction in depicting mystery with paint, where dark weaves through light and land meets sea and sky. She appreciates the exploration of dreams, mythology, archetypes, alchemy and metaphysics. She is deeply inspired by nature, by the secret whispers of desert winds, the language of trees, the dynamism of the elements, and the infinity of the stars and cosmos. Growing up in a rural area of Albuquerque, New Mexico, shaped how she experienced the natural world and strongly influences her work. The power and magnificence of animals, birds and insects often appear in her work as allegory for emotional states, transitions or as spirit guides.
Martinez’ work is primarily figurative and narrative, created mainly in oils. Her current focus examines personal sovereignty inspired by Greek, Celtic, Spanish, French, African and Indigenous mythology. Martinez strives for meaning and intention in each piece, simultaneously enjoying the engagement found in pure process. She seeks a feeling of transcendence in her paintings and desires for her work to touch the viewer with a sense of the divine.
Martinez has been working as a professional artist for 25 years. She started her art career as a licensed educator teaching K-12 art classes. She then worked as a scenic artist in the commercial world of set painting for television and theatre, followed by 15 years of graphic illustration. She has always painted personal work for pleasure. Martinez has recently left the commercial world to begin her career as a full time artist immersed in creating her own visions. At present, she is producing a body of work that highlights the different energetic states of a variety of sovereign goddesses found in mythology.
Martinez’ work can be found in many private collections and galleries throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, as well as in publications such as Spectrum, Infected by Art and ImagineFX. Martinez was an ARC finalist in 2021 for the Art Renewal Center’s International art competition.
GALLERY
2021 Hive Gallery Visionary Group Art Show
2021 Sandbar Art Studio “Land of Dreams” Group Art Show
2021 Dark Art Emporium “Tiny Terrors” Group Art Show
2021 Art Renewal Center International Art Competition Finalist
2021 Everyday Original Online Gallery
2021 Hive Gallery Annual Tarot Show
2020 Everyday Original Online Gallery
2020 Best of Hive:Hive Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2020 33 Contemporary Gallery Artsy.net
2020 Residence: Hive Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2019 Crooked Path Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2019 Orion Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2019 Tiny Visions Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2019 Best of Hive Gallery Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2018 Hive Gallery Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2018 Every Day Original December Virtual
2018 Dark Art Emporium Group Art Show Long Beach, CA
2018 The Crooked Path Bookstore Burbank, CA
2018 Hive Gallery Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2017 LaluzaPalooza La Luz De Jesus Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2017 Hive Gallery Group Show Los Angeles, CA
2016 SugarMynt Gallery Anniversary Show Pasadena, VA
2016 SugarMynt Gallery-Art of Calm Art Show Pasadena, CA
2016 IXC Group Show with Every Day Original New York, NY
2016 Hive Gallery Line Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2016 LaluzaPalooza La Luz De Jesus Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2016 MOCCA Fest Group Show with Every Day Original New York, NY
2016 Hive Gallery Tarot Show Los Angeles, CA
2016 Cannibal Flower 15 Year Anniversary Show Los Angeles, CA
2015 La Luz De Jesus Coaster Art Group Show Los Angeles, CA
2015 Roam Creative Gallery Solo Show Topanga Canyon, CA
2015 El Segundo Art Walk South Bay Customs El Segundo, CA
2015 Purple 33 Group Art Show and Music Event Culver City, CA
2015 Exact Science Gallery Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2015 Black Book Sessions Art Show Bo Bridges Gallery Manhattan Beach, CA
2015 ZODIAC Group Art Show-Gabba Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2015 Sananda Gallery Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2015 Hive Gallery Ten Year Anniversary and Best of Hive Group Show Los Angeles, CA
2015 Cannibal Flower Group Art Show Los Angeles, CA
2015 Hive Gallery Featured Artist-Featured artists include Mary Ancilla Martinez, Edward Cao and Luciano Martinez Los Angeles, CA
2014 Black Book Sessions 19 Group Art Show and Fundraiser Los Angeles, CA
2014 La Luz De Jesus Second Annual Coaster Art Group Show Los Angeles, CA
2014 Hive Gallery Group Show "With Proof Of Purchase" August Los Angeles, CA
2014 Chocolate and Art Show KGB Studios Los Angeles, CA
2014 Hive Gallery Group Show July Los Angeles, CA
2014 Dove Biscuit Art Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2014 Illuminate Album Release Party Live Painting Los Angeles, CA
2014 I HEART LA Group Show, Jeanie Madsen Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2014 Cannibal Flower Think Tank Group Show and Live Painting Los Angeles, CA
2014 Lightning In A Bottle Music and Art Festival Live Painting event Bradley, CA
2014 Oneira: I Dream the Self, Studio C Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2014 Angel City Heritage Festival Live Painting and Gallery Event Los Angeles CA
2014 This Is Happening Art Show, Pi Gallery Los Angeles CA
2014 Cannibal Flower Art Show, Performance Space Los Angeles, CA
2013 The Retreat's 5th Annual Art Competition Show, Richard J Demato Gallery New York, NY
2013 The Disciplines: An Interpretation of the Figurative, Studio C Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2013 Laluzapalooza Art Show, La Luz De Jesus Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2013 El Segundo Art Association Show, Library Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2009 Angels Art Show, Long Beach Gallery Long Beach, CA
2007 The Art Dept Gallery-Liberation Art Show, Art Dept Gallery San Diego, CA
2007 Alice in Wonderland Group Art Show, The Art of Framing Gallery San Diego, CA
2006 Art is OK Gallery Show Albuquerque, NM
2006 Studio Second Street Group Show, Studio Second Street Gallery Encinitas, CA
2006 E Street Cafe Gallery Show Encinitas, CA
2005 Arts College International Exhibition San Diego, CA
2002 Art Education Graduates Exhibition, University of NM Albuquerque, NM
2002 Visual Journals: The Art of Expression, Harwood Art Center Gallery Albuquerque, NM
2001 How We Got Here, First Annual LIBROS Book Show, Harwood Art Center Gallery Albuquerque, NM
2001 Immigration, Migration, Emmigration, Harwood Art Center Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
1999 Artist Book Exchange, Layola University Gallery Baltimore, MD
1998 Solo Art Exhibit, Wild Oats Gallery Albuquerque, NM
1991 Tamarind Institute Print Exhibit, Albuquerque Museum of Fine Art Albuquerque, NM
1991 University of Denton Photography Workshop Exhibit Denton, TX
ASSOCIATIONS
California Art Club, Society of Illustrators LA, DoArt Foundation, Los Angeles Art Association, El Segundo Art Association, National Art Education Association, LIBROS NM Book Arts Guild
PUBLICATIONS
2021 Art Renewal Center 15th International ARC Salon
2020 Witch’s Moon
2015 SPECTRUM Issue 22-Best in Contemporary Fantasy Art
2015 IMAGINE FX Issue 129-Best of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Artists magazine