About
José "Jun" Martínez (1992, Bayamón) is a visual artist from the Caribbean archipelago of Puerto Rico who is currently completing an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art, London.
Martínez's practice considers the tension between the beauty of the world and its hurting circumstances. He paints places of encounter for ecological, historical, and poetic reflections. Paying deep attention to nature's language, he translates his observations into a painting language based on the medium's materiality. Through a discipline of contemplative action, he positions himself within and alongside the painted subject. This approach embodies a sense of solidarity and a commitment to liberation. Coming from a land whose resources are continually endangered and exploited by political and economic structures, Martínez insists on painting as an act of affirmation.
Photo credit: Raquel Perez Puig, 2023
CV
EDUCATION
2024 MA Painting - Royal College of Art, London
2015 BA Humanities - Fine Arts. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
2010 Central School of Visual Arts, San Juan
TEACHING
2018-2023 Painting Techniques Professor. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan
2015-2019 Fine Arts Teacher. Centro de Desarrollo Integral, InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, Metro Campus, Guaynabo
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Esto también permanece. SalaFAR. Fundación Ángel Ramos. San Juan. 2022.
El abrazo de las fieras. Walter Otero Contemporary Art. San Juan. 2022
Entretanto: exhibición de obra en proceso. Walter Otero Contemporary Art. San Juan. 2020.
Dos lugares y ninguno. Walter Otero Contemporary Art. San Juan. 2018.
Jun Martínez: Ein Waldgänger. Curated by Omar Pascual-Castillo. Nova Invaliden Galerie, Berlin. 2017
All Things New, Walter Otero Contemporary Art, San Juan. 2016
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Segunda Bienal Sala FAR. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, 2023.
Reclamar el suelo, Declamar la tierra. Curated by Arte-Suelo-Ser. Hidrante, San Juan. 2021.
Nada es suficiente. Curaduría de Radamés “Juni" Figueroa. el kilómetro, San Juan. 2021.
Habitantes: espacio | memoria | idendidad. Museo de Arte de Bayamón. 2021
Landmark. el kilómetro. San Juan. 2020
La Colección: Miguel Pou. Museo de la Historia de Ponce. Ponce. 2017
II Gran Bienal Tropical. Curated by Pablo de la Barra, Marina Reyes & Stefan Benchoam. Loíza. 2016
Del Natural, Galería San Juan Bautista, Museo de San Juan, San Juan. 2016
Drawing Conclusions, Walter Otero Contemporary Art, San Juan. 2016
16ta Edición Muestra Nacional de Artes del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, San Juan. 2015
RESIDENCIES
Proyecto de Artistas Residentes de Bayamón - 2021-2023
Vermont Studio Center - Displaced Artist Fund Fellowship Award. January 2018