On why a little bit constantly adds up Shantell Martin Multifaceted artist
For those of us who didn’t grow up going to museums and galleries, the museum is the postcard on your fridge, it’s the t-shirt you’re wearing, it’s the sneakers you’re wearing
Shantell Martin is not your average artist. She’s also a public speaker, cultural facilitator, curator, choreographer, songwriter, performer and mentor. And it’s this all-embracing, boundary-blurring approach to creativity and artmaking that forms the basis of this episode.
Originally from Thamesmead in South East London – the iconic brutalist housing estate where A Clockwork Orange was famously filmed – and now based in LA, Shantell is known for her signature, stream-of-consciousness line drawings, murals and ‘who are you?’ slogan. Her kaleidoscopic CV has seen her collaborate with brands including Max Mara, The North Face, Tiffany and Co., as well as institutions MIT, The Whitney and Boston Ballet (where she also choreographed) and establish her own podcast series What’s the Point? She even has her own open source font ‘Shantell Sans’! And that, if you can believe it, that’s just for starters!
Having navigated her way through the murky waters of the ‘art’ world and got to a place where she now has the creative freedom to explore, in this episode she generously and candidly shares her experiences, learnings and insights picked up along the way. From why every artist needs a cocktail of skills, to what feedback to ignore, Shantell shines a light on the practical, proactive mindset needed to thrive within an opaque system.
Follow Shantell @shantell_martin
EPISODE INSIGHTS
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What you don’t get told about the artists who’ve “made it” (and the hustling involved)
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Why you need to trust in your own vision
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The value of peer support, mentorship, patronage and anyone fighting your corner
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Why art can exist everywhere, beyond the museum walls and traditional spaces
Thoughts on the episode? DM us @creativebloodworld
Hosted by Laura Conway
Produced by Scenery Studios
Show music by Ben Tarrant-Brown
Episode image: Michelle Mosqueda
Shantell loves
visit: Saraghina Restaurant, Brooklyn
"Great pizza, and this place has an amazing bakery attached to it!"
read: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
"I've always liked playing games but not considered the lives of the people making them"
visit: The New Britain Museum of American Art
"Beautiful collection. Beautiful museum"
visit: Governor's Island, New York
"It feels like you're transported into a completely other place"