Biography

My name is Ethan Martinez, and I am a Filipino-American artist based in Johnson City, TN. I like to tell people that I didn’t care to paint when I was younger because it was “too messy”. That was until I discovered oil paint in my freshman year of college, when everything changed for me. I quickly became consumed by painting, and I even changed my major to pursue an art career. The next year, I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Georgia and majored in Painting and minored in Drawing, during which I exhibited in many small-group exhibitions and cohort showcases. I graduated in 2025 and have returned home to Johnson City, TN, to continue my practice. Since returning, I have had to unlearn many of the formal aspects taught at school to reconnect with why I make art. In the future, I plan to develop my practice, apply to a MFA program, and dig even deeper. 

Artist Statement

I believe our younger selves are the most authentic and honest versions of who we are. Through my art, I reconnect with that sense of curiosity and freedom that I once had as a child. My work explores the quiet discomfort of coming of age, the vulnerable transitory periods of life, and the yearning to rekindle my childhood perspective. Recently, I have been challenging my instinct for perfectionism and learning to trust my intuition more.

​ Nearly all of my pieces begin with the observation and reinterpretation of the world around me. Many of my artworks are grounded in realism, but often become metaphorical. I draw inspiration from light, nature and sometimes architecture. I gravitate toward larger projects, finding the physical motion of broad brushstrokes both engaging and addictive. In contrast, smaller works intimidate me, as they can feel confining. Aesthetically, I am drawn to sharp contrasts of light and shadow, informed by classical and Baroque artists, especially Caravaggio and his chiaroscuro technique.

Today, I use art to rediscover and learn more about myself. It is a practice of actively engaging with the art of becoming. This statement itself is ever-changing and unfixed. What is true for me now may not be true for me in the future.