César A. Martínez American, b. 1944

Many figures in Martínez’s work aim to depict the average citizen, or a “cultural portrait of a working-class community, often marginalized, and one which generally goes unnoticed.” Santos G. Martinez Jr. notes, “[César Martínez] does more than just paint them. He elevates them, revealing their humanity and dignity by bringing them out of obscurity. And, in making them familiar, the artist invites us to take a good, hard look and explore each one carefully. In so doing, we develop a connection. Moreover, we cannot help but wonder about their individual “lives,” as we begin to search for fragments of clues in their gazes and expressions. A few of the images appear to be surrounded in a haze of darkness. While many are presented against a background of vibrant color and accompanied by energetic brushwork, all in a rhythmic dance that enlivens the image.”