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Shantell Martin exemplifies power of collaboration

By Chadd ScottPosted on June 27, 2022June 28, 20220 Comments
Shantell Martin Photographed by Weston Wells for Ralph Lauren collaboration 2022.
Shantell Martin Photographed by Weston Wells for Ralph Lauren collaboration 2022.

Shantell Martin (b. 1980; Thamesmead, London, England) believes so strongly in the power and potential of collaboration for artists that she’s somehow managed to find time in her schedule of art making, gallery and museum shows, brand partnerships, speeches, performances and NFT drops to develop an Artist-In-Residence program equipping other creatives to benefit from them. The project is a collaboration, of course.

Few artists have more completely incorporated partnerships and collaborations into their practice than Martin. Her instantly recognizable drawn line and text – black and white, whimsical, often filling massive walls and courtyards with poignant messages – have been thoughtfully paired with artists, brands and cultural institutions such as Kendrick Lamar, the New York City Ballet, the Boston Ballet, Tiffany & Co., Nike, The North Face, Ralph Lauren, Max Mara and Vespa. To name only a few.

The latest example of Martin working together to produce exceptional results comes by way of recently released NFT created with her longtime collaborator Ben Sheppee. The pair’s third NFT drop, “Lapidarist,” took place on June 3rd. A lapidarist is someone who cuts, polishes or engraves gems or a dealer in precious or semiprecious stones.

‘Lapidarist’ NFT, 2022. Art & Original Music by Shantell Martin. 3D design and Animation Ben Sheppee.
Max Bucksbaum – Nifty Gateway.

“Lapidarist” deconstructs and transforms solid or valid entities. The three-dimensional nature of the now abstract structures, each of which floats aimlessly in space, contributes to their ambiguity as something imagined attempts to become something real. The three works are Absence (Sometimes we need to go away to know where it is we are from and want to go), Presence (Be present, you exist, you are here), and Transience (Make the most of this day, this year, this life).

“I love that it allows me the space to collaborate and work on the blockchain and create a provenance that is easy to find and see,” Martin told me of her interest in producing NFTs. “Right now, it’s allowing me to do many things, like revisiting digital art.”

Martin produced the art and original music for “Lapidarist” while Sheppee handled the 3D design and animation. The NFTs are available for purchase on NiftyGateway.com.

Viewers can experience elements of the NFTs through Augmented Reality by downloading the Adobe Aero AR App and visiting the following links from any Internet-connected mobile device:

https://www.instagram.com/ar/1151404602101476/

https://www.instagram.com/ar/5080098018703919/

Shantell Martin: Collaborator

Shantell Martin, New York City Ballet Installation, 2022. Photo New York Times.
Shantell Martin, New York City Ballet Installation, 2019. Photo New York Times.

When did Martin realize the power of collaboration?

“I’d say it’s always been a part of my work, but ultimately, I discovered it when I moved to Japan and started to do live analog and digital visuals in Japanese avant-garde spaces and clubs,” Martin said. “There was such a community of collaboration and collaborators from different musicians, artists and organizers. Everyone was very open and kind and excited to share.”

Martin takes that attitude into her Artist-In-Residence project, Critical Mass, developed in partnership with Critical Mass Global CCO Val Carlson. CM:AIR’s first area of focus seeks to address artist-brand exploitation by exploring equity in contract negotiations, intellectual property, and modeling new norms for creative collaboration.

Martin believes the art world has a “collaboration problem.” Advertising agencies don’t know how to work with artists. Artists aren’t sure of their rights. As a result, artists are often taken advantage of and brands made to look foolish – or worse – in their attempts to use the creativity of others for their corporate ends.

Martin was involved in a high-profile example of this when she was approached by Microsoft’s ad agency in 2020 to paint a Black Lives Matter mural while it was “still relevant.” Martin exposing this exploitative request on social media, her extended response, and Microsoft’s attempt at an apology made waves through the art, advertising, activist and media arenas about performative allyship.

Shantell Martin: Businesswoman

Shantell Martin from Albright-Knox Art Gallery exhibition 'Someday We Can,'  2017. Photo by Connie Tsang.
Shantell Martin from Albright-Knox Art Gallery exhibition ‘Someday We Can,’ 2017. Photo by Connie Tsang.

Her deft handling of this case, her residency program, her meaningful and stylish ongoing partnerships with the most prestigious brands around the world, her social media presence, her brilliant website – the very “Shantell Martin” brand she’s built around herself – all indicate that Martin, in addition to a first-rate artist, is also a first-rate businesswoman. Having a head for business is a skill Martin acknowledges is increasingly important for artists.

“Unless you come from privilege and have a lot of access, it’s important as an artist that you are aware of all the different areas of your business: you have to be organized and manage your taxes, read your contracts, incorporate a legal team, and be fairly sociable,” she explains. “In today’s age, it’s important for artists to be aware of all the other areas of their business being an artist. That’s just what it is.”

For creative types who prefer spending time in the studio, not at an office or on Zoom calls, this can be uncomfortable, unnatural even. Martin encourages artists to consider it an inseparable aspect of their practice.

“The thing is, I think art is more than just making art. Art is being thoughtful. Art is paying attention to design and art is paying attention to the details. It’s making sure that things make sense. All of (my partnerships and collaborations and projects) are an extension of the type of art that I make,” she said.

How does Martin juggle art making with managing all the other business and administrative facets of her career? Her first tip for artists is to make sure they’re getting good sleep, from there, “be organized and learn how to delegate tasks while still being aware of all the moving parts.”

Martin encourages artists not to shy away from being businesspeople.

“I think sometimes we put artists in a box that limits them from being other things, but I believe we can do lots of things and do them well,” she said.

The artist. The collaborator. The businesswoman. Shantell Martin continues expanding the definition of what each can achieve.

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Out and about over the past two days in beautiful, Out and about over the past two days in beautiful, historic Old Town @visitalexva. 
Extraordinary sites of African American history including Freedman’s Cemetery monument pictured. Country’s oldest continually operated farmers market, murals.
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Inside the wonderous @jmkac Art Preserve in @visit Inside the wonderous @jmkac Art Preserve in @visitsheboygan @travelwisconsin. Opened 1 year ago, the museum is the only of its kind, dedicated to the display and preservation of art environments.
What are art environments? When an artist’s work takes over their studio, home, yard and surroundings and becomes the environment in which the artist lives, that’s an art environment.
A high percentage of these art environments can be found in the upper midwest, and a high percentage of those in #wisconsin, making the Art Preserve both a globally and locally focused institution.
Also true to form for Wisconsin, guests are greeted by a bar upon entry serving a draft beer named after a legendary art environment creator, Fred Smith. It’s damn good. Light. Crisp. Refreshing.
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AMAZED by Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk) photography exhibit AMAZED by Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk) photography exhibition on view at @museumofwiart in West Bend.
A taste of one of his thought-provoking series, an example of which earned him 2nd place in the nation’s most prestigious portrait photography competition hosted by @nationalportraitgallery.
These color photos also have beadwork embedded on the image, attached to a special backing to the photo paper by Jones.
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The @milwaukeeart museum has one of the nation’s finest collections of Georgia O’Keeffe #paintings including all of these which I saw on my visit this week. Do you have a favorite? 
Oh yeah, I’m from Wisconsin too.
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A taste of Jules Chéret poster exhibition, his 1s A taste of Jules Chéret poster exhibition, his 1st solo show ever in U.S., at @milwaukeeart. 
Local collectors donated some 600 items to museum in recent years. Story coming on Forbes.com.
#milwaukee #poster #posterdesign #posterart #paris 
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Ran across these #travel #memorabilia treasures at Ran across these #travel #memorabilia treasures at an estate sale in a million dollar house on the water where I live on Amelia Island. Guy managed luxury hotel properties around world allowing he and his wife to travel extensively.
Hoping these remind someone out there of good memories and exciting experiences traveling so I can rehome them to you.
Drop a not in comments or DM if interested. First come, first served.
#britishairways tote still in original wrapping: $60
#swissair stationery set including postcards, air mail envelopes, pad, pin, pen, pouch: $25
#klm ceramic ashtrays, all say “hand painted in Delft” on back: $30
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Large #ashtrays: $15
Small ashtrays: $10
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Find your perfect original Florida Highwaymen #painting at Highwaymen Art Specialists (link in bio) in Vero Beach and online.
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Mural in @dtjax @cityofjax recalling #Jacksonville Mural in @dtjax @cityofjax recalling #Jacksonville native Augusta Savage’s fabulous “Lift Every Voice and Sing” #sculpture from 1939 World’s Fair in NYC. The song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” was written by fellow Jax native James Weldon Johnson. This mural is now adjacent to @jamesweldonjohnsonpark.
The sculpture was never cast in bronze due to lack of funding. 
What public art piece should be installed at the old Landing site? A full size replica of Savage’s sculpture, commonly referred to as “The Harp.”
#augustasavage #mural #muralart #muralpainting #jamesweldonjohnson #blackhistory #blackart #harlemrenaissance
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