Martin Molina: What a Relief

From Tarrant County College:

“TCC SE Art Corridor Gallery is proud to present the exhibition Martin Molina: What a Relief. This exhibition opens to the public on October 28 and runs through November 22. The opening reception is October 30, from 5:00-6:30pm with an artist talk at 5:15pm.

Martin Molina says of his work that it is “primarily rooted in printmaking, draws inspiration from diverse sources that shape each piece. Currently, I am captivated by the concept of ‘Lotería,’ a traditional Mexican bingo-like game that replaces letters and numbers with symbolic images. In this series, I challenged myself to reinterpret the visual and cultural associations of the original game, creating a collection of woodblock prints with subtly coded imagery. Each of the 54 cards serves as a foundation for a unique part, all of which are represented in this exhibition. In addition to ‘Lotería,’ this body of work is also influenced by the history and cultural significance of October. The eerie atmosphere of the month, along with its connections to horror films and the Halloween holiday, inspired a selection of pieces that explore themes of fear, folklore, and the macabre.”

Martin Molina was raised in a military family moving from Germany to the United States as a child. After earning his BFA from Stephen F. Austin State University, Molina joined the U.S. Army Infantry and was deployed to Iraq and the Philippines. While serving, he was heavily involved in creating platoon logos and designs. After returning from his first duty station in Alaska, he completed an MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Molina has been using painting and printmaking to explore insects and cultural identity. Originally a strict acrylic and oil painter, he has expanded his use of multimedia in printmaking. Molina has been an adjunct professor for multiple Tarrant County College and Texas Christian University courses and is currently an Assistant Professor of Art at Tarrant County College Southeast.”