Artist Bio:
Francis Martinez is a Venezuelan-born, Orlando-based artist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Art with a specialization in Studio Art at the University of Central Florida. She has been creating since childhood and began developing her practice at a professional level at the age of 14, shortly after moving from her hometown of Valencia, Venezuela, to the United States. Her work has been featured in exhibitions such as the OCFL Hispanic Heritage Month Art Exhibit (2025), the Hispanic Heritage Virtual Art Exhibit (2021), the Maitland Rotary Arts Festival (2021), and the Avalon Arts & Culture Center Grand Opening (2021). She has also received recognition through awards, including the J.R. Hopes Scholarship Merit Award (2024), Best Florida Theme for Rain Barrel Design (2022), and the Award of Merit at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival (2022). In addition to her studio practice, Martinez is pursuing a minor in Art Education. She is committed to fostering creativity in others and hopes to inspire students to express themselves through art, sharing the same passion that drives her own work.
Artist Statement:
Throughout my work, I focus on exploring the concept of the constant evolution of identity, using portraiture and the human figure as my primary medium. My practice combines realism with surreal and symbolic elements, allowing me to go beyond real life and delve into the realm of meaning and emotion. As an immigrant, much of my current focus is on regaining pride in my nationality, while also giving shape to the complexity of living between cultures and, above all, nostalgia. However, my work is not limited solely to the experience of immigration. It is a search for all the layers of my identity as a whole person, beyond labels, beyond borders. When words fall short, my art talks the loudest, a way to name and confront that which defies simple definitions. My goal is to create works that not only tell my story but also invite others to reflect on their own. I hope viewers find reflections of themselves, either by relating to my own experiences or by creating connections from theirs.
