Today we’d like to introduce you to Traci Wright Martin.
Hi Traci Wright Martin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been an artist my whole life, from my childhood in Oregon to my college years and early professional career in Oklahoma. In 2018, my husband Evan accepted a new position at Michelin, bringing us to Greenville. I took a year to work in my home studio and slowly get to know the area and network with fellow artists before branching out into a commercial studio space. I opened The Bank Building Studios with three other women artists at the start of 2020. With all the ups and downs of the pandemic and relocating to a brand new community, I have had a wonderful experience in Greenville. I was welcomed with open arms into the art community, and I have been given great opportunities to exhibit here and work with many local clients on custom artwork. Outside of Greenville, my career has also been growing steadily. I’ve been published in art magazines with international circulation, including Fine Arts Connoisseur, American Art Collector, and International Artist. I have shown work in museums and gallery shows across the country. It’s hard work to build a skillset and hone your craft while finding opportunities for yourself as an artist. Networking and building community in my field brings the most profound and authentic results. It all comes back to connection and investing in others.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Not a smooth road. When you are self-employed and have a team of one, you must wear many hats. Splitting my time as an artist and a business person can be tricky. Creativity needs nurturing, and I have to manage that and prioritize it when the running of the day-to-day business occasionally takes over. During the pandemic, most business owners had to shift their work style. Artists went almost exclusively to online exhibitions, and connecting with our audience is a lot harder when they can’t see the work in person. Creativity had to filter into how we managed our careers and what art we were producing. Most artists have to be resilient to do what they do. Growing pains and an evolving career path are normal parts of the journey, but it can sometimes be tough.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m known for my contemporary realism artwork, primarily in portraiture and figurative subject matter. I have a unique style that I am known for, combining charcoal drawing with mixed media elements that range from pastels and paints to patterned papers and collages. I’m proud to have shown my work in juried shows in many museums and galleries, including the historic Salmagundi Club in NYC. I have work in prominent art collections across 28 states and several countries. I am proud of my continued growth as an artist, and I’m full of gratitude for the amazing opportunities I have experienced and the ones coming up on the horizon!
What makes you happy?
The people I love bring me the most joy. When I combine a loved one’s portrait into my work, it makes me so happy. It is the most sincere way to show someone how I feel about them. My pets make me happy, and my home and studio environments make me happy. Traveling makes me happy. Good wine makes me happy. The ocean makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.traciwrightmartin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traciwrightmartin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraciWrightMartin/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TraciMartinArt
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@traciwrightmartin?lang=en
Image Credits
Studio portrait and portrait of my hands drawing at the easel are both taken by: Tara Ashton Photography
