Shantell Martin: Past, Present, Future
Grounds For Sculpture / Sep 20, 2026 – Jul 23, 2028
At the recent opening for her new exhibition, Shantell Martin asked the audience for prompts and then did a spoken word performance live in front of the crowd.
This particularly vulnerable artistic expression isn’t surprising for those familiar with Martin’s work. She has never shied away from exploring tough topics in her art, including identity, intersectionality and personal introspection.
Martin has said that performing in front of a crowd allows her own personality to come through since there is no time to reconsider what happens next.
“For me, that’s the most honest you can be, and I love putting that honesty on display for myself and others,” Martin said. “You also get to share something that can only happen in that particular moment, time and place. That combination of people in the room, what everyone brings and how we respond to one another creates something unique. Even if you brought everyone together again, it would be different. I love that we get to experience that moment.”
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Photo Credit: Shantell Martin, “BENN,” 2026 / Courtesy of the Artist, Photo Roshni Khatri