"Passport Portrait, Martha Snow Mack" Digital, 2014
Statement
I create brightly colored narrative paintings that are inspired by dreams, visions, symbology and pop culture. My art practice is translating my innermost visions into paintings. Most of my artworks are in the Low Brow, Pop Surrealism, Neo Contemporary genres.
I begin with a sketch to document the details of the dream vision. The character of the sketch and the memory of the dream are what compel me to develop an idea further. Sometimes I combine ideas into a single painting. I also incorporate pop culture, symbology, and autobiographical elements into my works.
In the early '90s, I started making frames for my paintings. I assemble small toys, bottle caps, scraps of wood, faux gems, buttons, figurines, trophies and other cast offs; attaching the objects to a simple wood frame. The application of Gold paint transforms the recognizable objects into something surreal. The frames are intended to evoke memories of childhood, travels, and dreams.
I enjoy the art making process and aspire to inspire joy and fascination through my work.
I begin with a sketch to document the details of the dream vision. The character of the sketch and the memory of the dream are what compel me to develop an idea further. Sometimes I combine ideas into a single painting. I also incorporate pop culture, symbology, and autobiographical elements into my works.
In the early '90s, I started making frames for my paintings. I assemble small toys, bottle caps, scraps of wood, faux gems, buttons, figurines, trophies and other cast offs; attaching the objects to a simple wood frame. The application of Gold paint transforms the recognizable objects into something surreal. The frames are intended to evoke memories of childhood, travels, and dreams.
I enjoy the art making process and aspire to inspire joy and fascination through my work.
Biography
Snow Mack was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1958. Snow attended ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1981. Snow's work is inspired by her vivid dreams and imagination and incorporates elements of symbology and pop culture.
Snow began exhibiting paintings in the late '80s at La Luz de Jesus and other Los Angeles galleries. In 2011, La Luz de Jesus celebrated its 25th Anniversary with an extensive exhibition and a comprehensive book, "The Little Gallery That Could" by gallery owner Billy Shire. Snow Mack's work was featured in the show and Shire's book, which were considered a who’s who of Lowbrow and Pop Surrealism.
In 2014, Snow's work was featured in an exhibition at the Harwood Museum in Taos, New Mexico. ¡Orale! Kings and Queens of Cool was a four-part exhibition and catalog focused on the Post-Pop art movement.
Snow has exhibited her work in many galleries in Los Angeles and New Mexico. In 2019, Snow's work was included in When Worlds Collide, an exhibit at the Keep Contemporary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2020, her work was included in the juried exhibit The New Vanguard: Explorations in the New Contemporary, also at the Keep Contemporary.
Also in 2020, Snow's work was included in the virtual exhibit, Prayers for the Pandemic, a collection of works inspired by Tibetan Prayer flags, curated by Drawing Rooms in Jersey City, New Jersey. A catalog of the exhibit was published and includes essays by each of the exhibiting artists.
In June 2020, Snow created several signs inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The works were accepted by the Autry Museum's Collecting Community History Initiative: BLM Protests in the West.
Snow's work is in private collections in the United States and Canada. Snow continues to work in her home studio in Los Angeles and continues to pursue exhibition opportunities.
Snow began exhibiting paintings in the late '80s at La Luz de Jesus and other Los Angeles galleries. In 2011, La Luz de Jesus celebrated its 25th Anniversary with an extensive exhibition and a comprehensive book, "The Little Gallery That Could" by gallery owner Billy Shire. Snow Mack's work was featured in the show and Shire's book, which were considered a who’s who of Lowbrow and Pop Surrealism.
In 2014, Snow's work was featured in an exhibition at the Harwood Museum in Taos, New Mexico. ¡Orale! Kings and Queens of Cool was a four-part exhibition and catalog focused on the Post-Pop art movement.
Snow has exhibited her work in many galleries in Los Angeles and New Mexico. In 2019, Snow's work was included in When Worlds Collide, an exhibit at the Keep Contemporary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2020, her work was included in the juried exhibit The New Vanguard: Explorations in the New Contemporary, also at the Keep Contemporary.
Also in 2020, Snow's work was included in the virtual exhibit, Prayers for the Pandemic, a collection of works inspired by Tibetan Prayer flags, curated by Drawing Rooms in Jersey City, New Jersey. A catalog of the exhibit was published and includes essays by each of the exhibiting artists.
In June 2020, Snow created several signs inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The works were accepted by the Autry Museum's Collecting Community History Initiative: BLM Protests in the West.
Snow's work is in private collections in the United States and Canada. Snow continues to work in her home studio in Los Angeles and continues to pursue exhibition opportunities.
Collection
Autry Museum's Collecting Community History Initiative: BLM Protests in the West 2020 - 4 Digital works
House of Blues: Boston
Autry Museum's Collecting Community History Initiative: BLM Protests in the West 2020 - 4 Digital works
House of Blues: Boston
Publications
Prayers for the Pandemic by Anne Trauben, Drawing Rooms, published by Victory Hall Press 2020
Mona Lisa Reimagined by Erik Maell published by Goff Books, an imprint of Oro Editions, 2015
¡ÓRALE! The Kings & Queens of Cool; Lowbrow Insurgence: The Rise of Post-Pop Art published by The Harwood Museum, 2014
La Luz de Jesus 25: The Little Gallery That Could published by La Luz de Jesus Press, 2011
Education
ArtCenter College Of Design, Pasadena (CA) BFA 1981
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore (MD) 1978
University of Maine, Orono (ME) 1977
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence (RI) summer 1976
Prayers for the Pandemic by Anne Trauben, Drawing Rooms, published by Victory Hall Press 2020
Mona Lisa Reimagined by Erik Maell published by Goff Books, an imprint of Oro Editions, 2015
¡ÓRALE! The Kings & Queens of Cool; Lowbrow Insurgence: The Rise of Post-Pop Art published by The Harwood Museum, 2014
La Luz de Jesus 25: The Little Gallery That Could published by La Luz de Jesus Press, 2011
Education
ArtCenter College Of Design, Pasadena (CA) BFA 1981
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore (MD) 1978
University of Maine, Orono (ME) 1977
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence (RI) summer 1976