Dylan Martinez' art often examines the boundaries of human perception. His work challenges the viewer's expectations through the manipulation of light, space, and the optical properties of glass. While influenced by traditional techniques in glass making, he constantly strives to discover novel approaches to exploit the material and create a lens to view the world afresh. Martinez states, "Our vision has the greatest effect on our understanding of the world. Through my artwork, I create scenarios in which the viewer must question their capacity to navigate between reality and illusion. My curiosity of perception is driven by the fact that I am red-green colorblind. Having a deficit in my color vision is an alternative way of seeing. Inspired by Trompe L’oeil, 'H2O/SiO2' is entirely hot sculpted glass, which appear as bags of water. The trapped movement of the rising bubbles and the gesture of the forms convince the eye that the sculptures are just as they seem. What is fascinating

Dylan Martinez

Dylan Martinez Biography

Education

2017      Master of Fine Arts: Glass, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

2008      Bachelor of Science: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI 

Awards

2016      Best of Show / First Prize, Glass Art Society International, Student Exhibition, Corning, NY

              Marylin K. Glick Center for Glass Scholarship, Ball State, University, Muncie, IN

2015      Ladd Minshall Scholarship, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

   Honorable Mention, Juried Student Exhibition, Ball State, University, Muncie, IN

2014      Partial Scholarship, Pittsburgh Center for Glass, Pittsburgh, PA

              Best in Show, Juried Student Exhibition, Awarded by Yvonne, Klocek, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI

2010      Best in Glass, Duluth Art Fair, Duluth, MN

              2nd Prize, Arts West 31, Awarded by Alan William Nugent, Eau Claire,WI

              2nd Prize, Minnetonka Juried Exhibition, Minnetonka, MN

2009      Outstanding Student Award, Juried Student Exhibition, University of Wisconsin River Falls, River Falls, WI

2008      Jurors Award, Juried Student Exhibition, Awarded by Tamara, Brantmeier, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI

Selected Exhibitions

2017      Materials: Hard and Soft, Denton, TX

2016      Craft Forms 2016, Wayne, PA

              Gathering: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland, Muncie, IN

              Glass Art Society International Student Exhibition, Corning, NY

              Conglomerated Combustion, Atrium Gallery, Muncie, IN

2015      Ken Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

              Minnetrista Juried Art Show, Muncie, IN

   Metamorphosis, Kokomo, IN

2014      Open Space: Art About the Land, Muncie, IN

              Juried Student Exhibition, Gallery 101, River Falls, WI

              Howard Conn Fine Art Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (two person)

2013      Larson Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

2011      Kiehl Gallery, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN (solo)

2010      Arts West 31, Eau Claire, WI

              VMRC Juried Exhibition, Harrisonburg, VA

              Minnetonka Juried Exhibition, Minnetonka, MN

2010-08 Juried Student Exhibition, Gallery 101, River Falls, WI

2009      Bloomington Center for The Arts Juried Exhibition, Bloomington, MN

Relevant Experience

2016      Instructor, Introduction to Glass Art, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

2015-16  Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Casting, Intermediate Glass Blowing, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

2015      Designed Awards for Indiana Authors Award, Indianapolis, IN

              Studio Technician Apprentice, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA

2014      Visiting Artist, University of Wisconsin-Marathon County, Wausau, WI

              Designed Alumni Awards, University of Wisconsin River Falls, River Falls, WI

              Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Glassblowing, University Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI

2012 -13  Glass Blowing Assistant, Auckland, New Zealand, Worked for: Luke Jacomb, Katherine Ruteki, Elizabeth McClure and John Penman

2011      Teaching Assistant: “Decorating the Bubble,” Sam Stang and Kaeko Maehata, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC

2010 -12  Glassblowing Assistant, Augusta Glass Studio, Sam Stang, Augusta, MO

Dylan Martinez Description

Dylan Martinez' art often examines the boundaries of human perception. His work challenges the viewer's expectations through the manipulation of light, space, and the optical properties of glass.  While influenced by traditional techniques in glass making, he constantly strives to discover novel approaches to exploit the material and create a lens to view the world afresh.

Martinez states, "Our vision has the greatest effect on our understanding of the world.  Through my artwork, I create scenarios in which the viewer must question their capacity to navigate between reality and illusion. My curiosity of perception is driven by the fact that I am red-green colorblind. Having a deficit in my color vision is an alternative way of seeing. Inspired by Trompe L’oeil, 'H2O/SiO2' is entirely hot sculpted glass, which appear as bags of water. The trapped movement of the rising bubbles and the gesture of the forms convince the eye that the sculptures are just as they seem. What is fascinating is that our desires often override our perception of reality and you believe what you think is visible as the truth."

Dylan Martinez is from Stillwater, Minnesota. He received his bachelor’s degree in broad field science at The University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2008. In 2017, he received his MFA in glass, at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.  Dylan opened his glass studio in White Salmon, Washington (formerly White Salmon Glassworks) in October 2017.

Dylan Martinez Statement

Like many hot glass artists, Dylan was seduced by the material almost immediately. The intimacy of working the hot glass and its multitude of physical properties are a continual source of inspiration for his artwork. Dylan's approach to creating new works of art is more akin to a scientist in a laboratory. His projects often begin with a basic idea, material or action and he experiments with it until it takes on a life of its own. Many times, a mishap in a project or experiment will lead to the creation of a future body of work.

Our vision has the greatest effect on our understanding of the world. Dylan's artwork often creates scenarios in which the viewer must question their ability to differentiate between reality and illusion. His curiosity of perception is driven by the fact that he is red-green colorblind. Having a deficit in color vision is an alternative way of seeing. Inspired by Trompe L’oeil, H2O/SiO2 is entirely hot sculpted glass, which appear as bags of water. The trapped movement of the rising bubbles and the gesture of the forms convince the eye that the forms are accurate. What is fascinating is that our desires often override the reality of our experience. The focus on clean, simple design juxtaposed by the complexity of the bags’ construction echoes his artistic philosophy that technical mastery should dissolve into form. As an artist, Dylan strives to discover novel approaches to exploit material to create a lens to view our world afresh.