about & contact
I am interested in creating an experience, and a dialogue between the body and common materials. The process and result are raw and unedited. The actions are explorations of subtle and momentary movements. The installations are simple, dynamic and personal. My intention is to allow viewers to interpret and question the work according to their expectations about what art is and how it should appear.
email
artrossana [at] gmail [dot] com
bio
Rossana Martinez is an artist interested in conceptual and performance art, artists’ books, drawing, photography, sculpture, installation, and textiles, among many other things. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and holds an MFA in Sculpture and Printmaking from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, and a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
Rossana’s work investigates subtleties of balance and movement, which is based on her running and yoga practice. Through the use of her body and common materials, she is more interested in creating experiences rather than specific objects.
Her projects have been exhibited nationally and internationally in New York City, Australia, Belgium, Mexico, The Netherlands, Switzerland, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. She has received awards from the Brooklyn Arts Council, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and El Diario La Prensa (Mujeres Destacadas Award). Her work has been reviewed in publications, such as The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Brooklyn Rail, The New York Sun, Flavorpill and Artnet Magazine. In 2003, Rossana founded and currently directs MINUS SPACE, a gallery for reductive art on the international level, based in Brooklyn.
In 2007, she began a sketchbook/blog, art & life, about the relationship between the two — where she shares her experiences as an artist, runner, yogi, rooftop gardener and mama. She currently resides with her husband and son in Brooklyn, NY.
solo/two-person exhibitions and performances
2010
Present, The Engine Room, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
2009
Present, Project Space Spare Room, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
2008
Sequence, Gallery Sonja Roesch, Houston, TX (with Susanne Ackermann)
2007
Present, SNO, Sydney, Australia
2006
Heart on Fire, H29, Brussels, Belgium (performance/installation with Matthew Deleget)
Mind Games, PS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Greetings from Brooklyn, Hebel_121, Basel, Switzerland
2004
Home, David Allen Art & Design Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2001
Obras Recientes, Galería Sín Título, San Juan, PR
2000
Recent Works, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
1999
Amerige, El Museo Francisco Oller y Diego Rivera, Buffalo, NY
1998
Terra Nova, Artspace, Richmond, VA
1997
Cloths of Heaven, Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA
1996
Fiber Suns, M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
selected group exhibitions and performances
2012
Voces y Visiones: Gran Caribe, El Museo de Barrio, New York, NY; Curated by Rocío Aranda-Alvarado
MINUS SPACE en Oaxaca: Panorama de 31 artistas internacionales, Instituto de Artes Gráficas de Oaxaca, Mexico; Curated by Matthew Deleget & Emi Winter
2011
Telefone Sem Fio, EFA Project Space, New York, NY; Curated by Michelle Levy (performance/installation)
The Weight of Jupiter, Enjoy Public Art Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand; Curated by Erica Van Zon
Fluid, Towson University, Towson, MD & Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE; Curated by Susan Isaacs (performance/installation with TU’s Dance department students and Vincent Thomas VTDance)
Frequency, Bank of America Center, Houston, TX; Organized by Kinzelman Art Consulting and Gallery Sonja Roesch
2010
Constructed Painting, Kudos Gallery, Sydney, Australia; Curated by Francesca Mataraga (performance/installation)
No fue un mal entendido, Museo de Arte de Caguas (MUAC), Caguas, Puerto Rico; Curated by Elsa María Meléndez
Informal Relations, Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, Indianapolis, IN; Curated by Scott Grow
M5, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Feldman Gallery, Portland, OR; Curated by Jeff Jahn
American Abstract Artists International, The Aragonese Castle of Otranto, Otranto, Italy
2009
Partners in Love & Art, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Lynn Saville
Accrochage, Gallery Sonja Roesch, Houston, TX
Escape from New York, Project Space Spare Room, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia; Curated by Matthew Deleget
2008
MINUS SPACE, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center / Museum of Modern Art, Long Island City, NY; Curated by Phong Bui
MetroPoles, collaboration with Jim Nolan, Shinsuke Aso & Mike Rader, Bronx River Art Center, NY; Curated by Jose Ruiz
American Abstract Artists: Tribute to Esphyr Slobodkina, The Painting Center, New York, NY
Unique Forms/Redux, ART LOT, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Jim Osman
La vie en rond, H29, Brussels, Belgium
My Eyes Keep Me in Trouble, Sydney College of the Arts Gallery, Australia & The Physics Room, New Zealand; Curated by Tilman
Considerable, Studio O, Artstreet, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH; Curated by Jeffrey Cortland Jones
2007
Und Jetzt, IS, Leiden, The Netherlands
Pushing the Envelope: A Drawing Show, Williams Tower Gallery, Houston, TX; Curated by Sally Sprout
All is well that begins well and has no end, 80WSE Galleries, New York University, New York, NY (performance/installation)
So this is how It all began, Hudson Guild Gallery, New York, NY; Curated by Jim Pavlicovic
Material Matter, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Katherine Griefen (performance/installation)
Breaking the White Light, Platform, New York, NY; Curated by Scott Malbaurn
Four Artists: Work by Recent Pratt Alumni, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, NY; Curated by Eugenie Tsai
Pacific Street, rm103 Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
Escape from New York, SNO, Sydney, Australia; Curated by Matthew Deleget
Radius, Metaphor Contemporary Art, Brooklyn, NY
My Eyes Keep Me in Trouble, Nieuwe Vide, Haarlem, The Netherlands; Curated by Tilman
This exhibition…, Gallery Sonja Roesch, Houston, TX (performance/installation)
Open Studios, Workspace Residency, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, NY (performance/installation)
2006
Works on Paper, Gallery Sonja Roesch, Houston, TX
New Work, Ocular Lab Inc., Melbourne, Australia; Curated by Danny Lacy
transit — abstract I, II, III, project space Henselmann Tower, Berlin, Germany
NOS, La Barraliere, Tulette, France
Design/Build, Metaphor Contemporary Art, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Julian Jackson
Take Off, Hebel_121, Basel, Switzerland
PP III, Hunter College/Times Square Gallery, New York, NY; Curated by Gabriele Evertz (performance/installation)
Minimalisms, Gallery W 52, The Lobby Gallery, New York, NY; Curated by Rachel Howe
2005
Fernando Colon-Gonzalez + Rossana Martinez, Fashion District Arts Festival, New York, NY
Affordable Art Fair, through David Allen Gallery, New York, NY
Ideal, Metaphor Contemporary Art, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Renee Lynch
Optical Simulations, Yellow Bird Gallery, Newburgh, NY; Curated by Jill Conner
2004
4 by 4 by 4, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA
All the Numbers I Know, The Rotunda Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Meridith McNeal
Plan D, Festival Iberoamericano de las Artes, Galería Raíces, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Impresionante: Innovative Prints by Contemporary Puerto Rican Artists, International Print Center NY, NY; Curated by Deborah Cullen and Harper Montgomery
Composition in Hi-Fi, David Allen Art & Design Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2003
Artist in the Marketplace (AIM), The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY
2002
A Bird’s Eye View, Grand Army Plaza Arch, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Yasmin Ramírez
2001
Random Access Memory, d.u.m.b.o. arts center (dac), Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Silvia Rocciolo
Offerings, Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA; Curated by Anabelle Rodríguez
XIII International San Juan Print Biennial, Cultural Institute of Puerto Rico, PR
2000
The S-Files/Selected from the Files, El Museo del Barrio, NY; Curated by Deborah Cullen and Yasmin Ramírez
1999
Formulas for Revelation, The Rotunda Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Curated by Michele Maccarone and Leslie Alexander
Live Action Painting, performance event in conjunction with the DUMBO Arts Festival, Brooklyn, NY
Group Show, Museo de Arte de Aguadilla y del Caribe, Aguadilla, PR
1998
XII International San Juan Print Biennial, Cultural Institute of Puerto Rico, PR
3rd Biennial Exhibition, A.I.R. Gallery, NY; Juried by Elizabeth Sussman
Print Biennial, Hand Workshop Art Center, Richmond, VA
Higher Worlds, Pelham Arts Center, Pelham, NY
Williamsburg Bridges Tibet, Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Summer Exhibit, Combo Co. Studios, Brooklyn, NY
1997
Group Show, Art Student Showcase, NY
Shoe Project Exhibition, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY; Organized by Cyrilla Mozenter
Out of Print, in conjunction with the conference Writing the Arts, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
1995
Rossana Martínez, Matthew Deleget, Héctor Manuel Román, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Rossana Martínez and Matthew Deleget, Sewn and Gathered Sculptures, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Contemporary Symbolism, 450 Broadway Gallery, NY
1994
Window Installation, Taller Galería Iberoamericana, Aguadilla, PR
Convergence, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Raíces, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
awards/honors
2008
Mujeres Destacadas Award, El Diario La Prensa, New York, NY
Elected Member, CUE Fellows Council, CUE Art Foundation, New York, NY
Nominated, Rema Hort Mann Foundation Award, New York, NY
2006-2007
Workspace Residency, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, NY
2005
Community Arts Regrant Program, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY
2004
Community Arts Regrant Program, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY
2003
Artist in the Marketplace Program (AIM), The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY
1998
Solo Exhibition Award, Non-Toxic 2000 Print Show, Artspace, Richmond, VA
1996
Institutional Graduate Assistantship for Printmaking, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
education
1996
M.F.A. in Sculpture and Printmaking, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
1991
B.A., Liberal Arts, Magna Cum Laude, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR
editions and artists’ books
Index, Published by Justin Andrews, Melbourne, Australia, Issue No. 3, 2013, Edition of 50
Body Geometry for Sequoia Tees, 2012, Edition of 100
UND Jetzt IS Box, Published by IS Projects, Leiden, The Netherlands, 2008, Edition of 49
catalogues and books
The Artist’s Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love, NY: Da Capo Press, 2009; Jackie Battenfield.
All is well that begins well and has no end, 80WSE Galleries, New York University, New York, NY, 2007.
Material Matter, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2007; Esssay by Katherine Griefen.
Escape from New York, SNO, Sydney, Australia, 2007.
Intaglio, The Complete Safety-First System for Creative Printmaking, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2007; Robert Adam and Carol Robertson.
My Eyes Keep Me in Trouble, Nieuwe Vide, Haarlem, The Netherlands; Essay by Tilman.
New Work, Ocular Lab Inc., Melbourne, Australia, 2006; Essay by Danny Lacy.
Presentational Painting III. Hunter College/Times Square Gallery, New York, NY, 2006; Essays by Gabriele Evertz, Abbey Ryan and
John Cox.
Minimalisms. Dinaburg Arts/Gallery W 52, New York, NY, 2006; Essay by Joao Ribas.
Innovative Prints by Contemporary PR Artists, International Print Center of NY, 2004; Essays by Harper Montgomery & Deborah Cullen.
4 x 4 x 4, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA, 2004; Preface by Linda Francis.
Artist in the Marketplace (AIM), The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY, 2003; Essays by Amy Rosenblum-Martin and Lydia Yee.
A Bird’s Eye View, Grand Army Plaza Arch, Brooklyn, NY, 2002; Essay by Yasmin Ramírez.
XIII Bienal de San Juan del Grabado Latinoamericano y del Caribe. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, PR, 2001.
The S-Files/Selected from the Files, El Museo del Barrio, NY, 2000; Essays by Deborah Cullen and Yasmin Ramírez.
XII Bienal de San Juan del Grabado Latinoamericano y del Caribe. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, PR, 1998.
press
Eduardo Gonzalez-Cueva. “The Subtle Language of Caribbean Identity – A Visit to El Museo del Barrio”, Latin Lover, August 2012.
Josep Felip. “Rossana Martínez, una boricua entregada al arte”, Ellos son la cultura latina, MSN Latino, September 2010.
ArC: Art & Concept interview with Jeff Jahn, August 19, 2010.
Erin Loechner. “Rossana Martinez”, Design for Mankind, March 1, 2010.
Phong Bui. “MINUS SPACE: The Art of Reduction”, P.S.1 Newspaper, Fall/Winter 2008.
Douglas Britt. “Two exhibits deliver in paint and pencil”, Houston Chronicle, August 28, 2008.
Mujeres Destacadas 2008, El Diario/La Prensa, April 20 & 23, 2008.
“The New Downtown NYC”, New York Magazine, New York, NY, November 2007.
“Four Alumni: Holding up a Mirror to Community and Culture”, Prattfolio, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, Summer 2007.
Bradley Hope. “Pratt Presents Four Fresh Faces”, The New York Sun, June 14, 2007.
Perry Garvin, Workspace Residency Artist Interview, LMCC, New York, NY, Fall 2006.
Simon Baur. “Martinez und Deleget: Farbgespräch, at Galerie Hebel_121,” Basler Zeitung, April 20, 2006.
Grace Glueck. “Presentational Painting III.” The New York Times, April 7, 2006.
Stephen Maine. “Painting Presentation.” Artnet Magazine, April 7, 2006.
Mark Rifkin. “Presentational Painting III.” This Week in New York, March 29, 2006.
Stephen Maine. “Whither Williamsburg.” Artnet Magazine, January 12, 2006.
Ben La Rocco. “Ideal: Selections from the American Abstract Artists at Metaphor Contemporary Art.” The Brooklyn Rail, July/August 2005.
Stephen Maine. “Dateline Brooklyn.” Artnet Magazine, April 15, 2005.
James Kalm. “A Boom Grows in Brooklyn.” New York Arts Magazine, September/October 2004.
James Kalm. “A Boom Grows in Brooklyn.” The Brooklyn Rail, July/August 2004.
Elvis Fuentes. “El dibujo como eje del arte.” El Nuevo Día: Por Dentro, July 13, 2004.
James F. L. Carroll, “New Arts Alive.” Berks Community Television, PA, July 13, 2004
“De fiesta la plástica en el Festival”, El Nuevo Día, San Juan, PR, June 12, 2004.
Christy Goodman. “Stay Home for Intriguing Modern Works: David Allen Gallery Premieres Two Exciting Shows”, 24/7, March 1, 2004.
Karen Rosenberg, “Market”, The Village Voice, August 27, 2003.
Paul Laster, “AIM 23: Artist in the Marketplace”, Flavorpill, July 23, 2003.
“City Pulse Exhibitions.” San Juan Magazine, San Juan, PR, August/September, 2001.
“Finalistas Boricuas en Grabado.” El Nuevo Día, San Juan, PR, April 8, 2001.
“Entrevista con Anabelle Rodríguez de Taller Puertorriqueño.” Al Día, Philadelphia, PA, March 4, 2001.
MoLAA Art Auction, Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA, 2001.
“30 Años en el Barrio.” El Nuevo Día, San Juan, PR, August 13, 2000.
Fine Arts Calendar, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN, Fall 1999.
“Rossana Martínez’s works continue on exhibit at the Arsenal de la Marina.” The San Juan Star, PR, June 11, 1998.
“1998 Print Biennial.” Hand Workshop Art Center Newsletter, Richmond, VA, April 1998.
“Cloths of Heaven to be the topic of Martínez talk.” The Chatham Courier, Chatham, NY, November 20, 1997.
lectures/panels/projects
Hunter College, Department of Art, CUNY, New York, NY, 2013
Hunter College, Department of Art, CUNY, New York, NY, 2012
El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY, 2012
Towson University, Towson, MD, 2011
Source, sponsored by Powerhouse Projects and the CUNY Center for Worker Education, New York, NY, 2010
School of the Art Institute of Chicago at P.S.1, New York, NY, 2009
Creative Renewal and Exploration, ReIGNITE!, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, 2008
Hunter College, Department of Art, CUNY, New York, NY, 2008
Lehman College, Department of Art, CUNY, New York, NY, 2008
The Art of Public Presentation: How to Say It All in 5 Minutes, CUE Art Foundation, New York, NY, 2007
Material Matter: The Currency of Abstraction, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2007
Geometry Never Ends: Painting and Beyond, New York University, New York, NY, 2007
Four Artists Talk, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, NY, 2007
Hunter College, Department of Art, CUNY, New York, NY, 2007
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, 2007
University of Houston, School of Art, Houston, TX, 2007
Co-curated exhibition, Growing Up in Public, in collaboration with TAG Projects, Repetti Gallery, Long Island City, NY, 2006
Co-founded MINUS SPACE, Brooklyn, NY, 2003
Mundo Novo, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN, 2000
Brooklyn USA, A City Apart, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, 1998
Cloths of Heaven, Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA, 1997
collections
El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY
Museo de Arte de Aguadilla y del Caribe, Aguadilla, PR
Museo de Arte de Caguas (MUAC), Caguas, PR
Pratt Institute Library, Brooklyn, NY
UBS Paine Webber, PR
Wabash College Collection of Contemporary Art, Crawfordsville, IN
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Private collections