MARC STRAUS

José Carlos Martinat (b. 1974, Lima, Peru) lives and works in Lima, Peru. Martinat’s work is concerned with the social, cultural, and political contexts of Latin America. His multidisciplinary practice involves painting, sculpture, audio, extraction, and text. 

In his signature work he explores the ramifications of social inequality engendered by outdated economic models in Latin America. In the months leading up to Peru’s presidential election in 2021 and subsequently, Martinat extracted painted political and protest logos off the walls around the outskirts of Lima to capture pivotal historical moments. Weary of the country’s politics rife with corruption, the populace has taken their frustration to the streets by painting graffiti over political advertisements. Without lobbying for any political group, he seeks to highlight these difficult moments and the frustrations of many Peruvians.

Martinat’s work is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (New York); Perez Art Museum (Miami); The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York); Tate Modern (London); Saatchi Collection (London); Museum of Contemporary Art São Paulo (Brazil); Museo de Arte de Lima (Peru); Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires (Argentina); among others.

He has shown extensively in international institutions including the Museo de Arte de Zapopan, Mexico (2017); Sao Paolo Art Biennial, Brazil (2009 and 2015); Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom (2014); Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom (2013); Biennale of Visual Arts, Ireland (2012); Noord-Holland Biennale, Netherlands (2012); Museum of Latin American Art, Los Angeles, CA (2012); IX Shanghai Biennale, China (2012); Estação Pinacoteca, Brazil (2011); Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL (2011); Trienal Poligráfica de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico (2009); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Vigo, Spain (2007); La Laboral, Spain (2007), among others.

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