SAAC welcomes South Arkansas artist and Camden native Kimberly Martin and her exhibition “Scattered and Splattered” to the Lobby Gallery March 6 – March 27, 2024. There will be an artist’s reception on Thursday, March 14 from 5:30-7:00pm.
Martin’s curiosity leads her to embrace the freedom of experimentation with her art, venturing into uncharted territories and trying out new techniques and approaches. Laughingly, Martin refers to her artistic process as “Chaos.” She does not impose her will on the canvas; instead, she surrenders to the unpredictability of the creative journey. Martin said, “It’s like navigating through a storm, with each brushstroke and splatter of paint adding to the tumultuous dance of colors and shapes. Within this chaos, there lies a hidden order—a silent whisper guiding me towards the true essence of the artwork. I sometimes see life as complex and often thorny, and I believe that this comes through in some of my pieces.” Yet underneath it all, there are hints of something hopeful, which produces a multi-faceted expression, both vulnerable and defiant.
Martin emerges as a newcomer to the Arkansas art scene, bringing with her a lifetime of experiences rooted in the fertile soil of South Arkansas. Growing up on a farm, Martin’s adventurous spirit led her to climb trees, roam through pastures, and perch atop barns, where she found inspiration in the natural world, often seeing faces in the leaves of trees. Embracing a chaotic and experimental approach, Kimberly defies conventional artistic boundaries, infusing her work with a sense of unpredictability. With no set medium, she explores different materials, pushing their limits to create captivating compositions that reflect her unique perspective on the world.
For the past five years, art has become Martin’s lifeline. Now, as she showcases her work for the first time in Arkansas, she looks ahead with anticipation, eager to continue her artistic journey and see where the future leads, embracing the unknown with open arms.
