Artist Statement
“The breadth of my work explores the idea of getting lost in translation. The work begins as a phrase that is converted using the Wingdings 3 font. The font does two things: One, it serves as a filter so that the viewer does not recognize the wording- only the form. It is the bridge between two sets of language and identities. I am torn in two. My native tongue is broken and limited while my English is still incomplete. Wingdings 3 helps me to create a new sense of self. One that only I can understand and manipulate. Two, it allows me to repeat motifs that can be designed and redesigned endlessly. I am interested in the visual representation of language. The content of the words influences the composition, color, and size of the work.
They are soft convoluted individual forms created out of the desperate attempt to connect. I am interested in creating forms that are abstractedly representative of connection and fundamental comprehension. The process is playful, layered and destructive. The code to translate is accessible but the design is too distorted to unravel. The arrow motif is the universal directional signal that is useless in these compositions. Often they are saggy, sad and in general a total drag. They each carry the weight of discomfort, shame and are emblematic of an incoherent rant.”
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Martha Elena was born in Cerritos, Mexico and raised in Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Elena attended and graduated from the University of Texas Pan American (now UTRGV) with a BFA. She now resides in Fort Worth, Texas. Elena is Multi-disciplinary and she is currently exploring and evolving in Soft Sculpture.
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Bachelors of Fine Arts, 2015
Solo Exhibitions
2023 Trágame , Tierra Arts Fort Worth. Fort Worth, Texas
2023 Disculpa. ?Puedo Pasar? The Carillon Gallery. Fort Worth, Texas
2021 Solo Solo: Martha Elena Artspace111. Fort Worth, Texas
Group Exhibitions
2023 Small Works Show 400 Houston St. Gallery & Studio. Fort Worth, Texas
2023 Le Sol x LALO Featuring Benjamin Munoz and Martha Elena Chateau Le Sol. Dallas, Texas
2023 Relative Density: Material Processes The Episcopal School of Dallas. Dallas, Texas
2022 Looking Forward Women’s Exhibition 400 Houston St. Gallery & Studio. Fort Worth, Texas
2022 Talley Dunn Gallery Equity in Arts Fellowship: Martha Elena, Charles Antoine Gray, Juan Negroni, Alex Ordoñez, Jae-Eun Suh Talley Dunn Gallery. Dallas, Texas
2021 Primer. Charged Abstraction Troost Gardens. Kansas City, Missouri
2021 Rising Star 8 - An Exhibition & Fundraiser Turner House. Dallas, Texas
2021 Texas Juried Exhibition Group Exhibition Artspace111. Fort Worth, Texas
2020 Texas Juried Exhibition Group Exhibition Artspace111. Fort Worth, Texas
2019 Texas Juried Exhibition Group Exhibition Artspace111. Fort Worth, Texas
2018 Thread Group Show Clamplight. San Antonio, Texas
2017 Toma Mi Corazon Pena Gallery. Austin, Texas
2017 Mix ‘n’ Match: XOXO Mexic-Arte Museum. Austin, Texas
2015 Annual Juried Artist Unanimous Group Exhibition Upper Valley Art League. Mission, Texas
2014 Art Against Violence Clark Gallery. Edinburg, Texas
2014 Flight: A retrospective Look at Female Artists in the Rio Grande Valley The Sound Factory. McAllen, Texas
2014 Annual Juried Artist Unanimous Group Exhibition Upper Valley Art League. Mission, Texas
2013 Annual Juried Artist Unanimous Group Exhibition Upper Valley Art League. Mission, Texas