“Night Bird” by Delita Martin, 2020, mixed media, 42×30.
ARTIST BIO
Delita Martin is an artist and activist based in Huffman, Texas. A multidisciplinary creator who draws, sews, collages and paints on paper, Martin often depicts Black women whose stories have historically been omitted from Western art. Combining modern and traditional materials and imagery, Martin constructs images inspired by her personal history in order to generate new narratives and challenge societal norms.
Martin received a BFA in drawing from Texas Southern University and an MFA in printmaking from Purdue University, and previously taught drawing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2020, she launched the Black Box Press Foundation dedicated to supporting artists whose work inspires activism and social change.
Martin’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in numerous private and public collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Texas; Bradbury Art Museum and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas; Gorman Museum of Native American Art in California; David C. Driskell Center in Maryland; Minneapolis Institute of Art and Minnesota Museum of American Art in Minnesota; and the Library of Congress and National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., among others. Her work “The Gathering” was commissioned for the Moody Center for the Art’s tent series in 2021 and is now part of the Rice Public Art collection in Houston.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“The concept of Spirit World, what I refer to as the ‘Veilscape,’ is one that has been embraced by African American women as a powerful tool in their journey towards self-empowerment. The Spirit World or Veilscape is an intangible reality embraced by Black women to nurture their power and potential. It consists of four main elements: duality, freedom from oppression, transformation and connection to ancestors.
“Duality is the idea that there are two realms within Spirit World, one that is seen and one that is unseen. This idea has been prevalent among African Americans for centuries as a way to cope with the struggles of racism. In the face of adversity, Black women have long used this duality to create an inner strength and strength of spirit. By embracing both the seen and unseen aspects of life, Black women have found ways to deal with both physical and emotional barriers they have had to face throughout history. I have embraced this idea not only as a key part of my spiritual practice, but my artistic practice as well. I believe that this duality allows the women in my work to step into their power in both realms.
“Freedom from oppression is another important aspect of the Veilscape. By embracing this part of their reality, they can free themselves from some of the oppressive systems they have faced throughout history such as racism and sexism.
“Transformation is yet another important element of the Veilscape. By entering this reality, they are able to move beyond the physical limitations imposed upon them by society and tap into their full potential as individuals and offer a different narrative beyond stereotypes. They can explore different possibilities for their lives without worrying about societal expectations or limitations placed upon them because of their race or gender identity. Furthermore, entering the Veilscape gives Black women an opportunity for self-reflection which can lead them on a journey towards self-discovery.
“Lastly, connection to ancestors. Through this lens they can recognize their place in a larger narrative by connecting with their foremothers who also faced similar struggles.
“Through my embrace of Spirit World as part of [my] artistic practice, it is my goal to provide insight into how Black womanhood can be used for self-empowerment. These works reinforce the bond amongst women and how they co-exist in the physical world of nature and the spiritual realm. Through the layering of various mediums and symbols, I can pull the viewer out of a logical and common world and place them within a space that offers a glimpse into sacred meetings between women in a spiritual realm.
“The duality of women in my work projects the spirit and its connection to the physical world, which reinforces the bond amongst women and how they co-exist in the physical and spiritual realms. By embracing these elements, together with creativity and imagination, the women in my work bring forth a powerful force within themselves that will propel them forward on their journey towards empowerment, regardless of external adversities they may face throughout life.”
See more of Martin’s work on this month’s cover, on display at Acansa Gallery starting Sept. 19, online at blackboxpressstudio.com and on Instagram at @blackboxpress.
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