Artist Bio

Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, Martin Spei moved around the United States and Canada, living in Tampa, Toronto, Chicago, Santa Fe, Little Rock, and Phoenix. In Toronto, he attended York University, majoring in Theater Arts. In Chicago, he attended the Art Institute, where he trained apprentice-style with accomplished sculptors and painters. He continues to be motivated by people who work and is always inspired by other artists. Both creating and problem-solving are significant parts of the sculptor's work. Martin Spei wants to engage the audience with clear references so that the meaning and story are relevant. His work expresses his desire to understand why and how people do the work they do. Martin focuses on the figure to permit immediate access to both interpretation and connection. He is drawn to images of business and politics as he explores the human reaction to these forces. Martin aims to capture the context of societal norms while portraying the inner dialogue of the individual, striving to share the humorous irony in simultaneous connection and isolation.

Artist's Statement

Creating and problem-solving are the largest parts of a sculptor's mental work. All metaphor is derived from personal context, and the art object ultimately remains a symbol. I want to engage the audience with clear references so that the meaning and story behind the sculpture are relevant.

My work expresses my desire to understand why and how people do the work they do. My artwork is representational. I work with the figure because I believe it can permit immediate access to interpretation and connection. I am drawn to images of business and politics as I explore the human reaction to these forces. I want to capture the context of societal norms while portraying the inner dialogue of an individual as I strive to share the humorous irony I see in our simultaneous connection and isolation.

Curriculum Vitae

2019 Texas Contemporary
2019 Dubuque Museum of Art 2019 Biennial

2015-2019 LA Art Show

2015-2019 SOFA Chicago

2017 Tramoya Royale Solo Installation

2017 FORM Miami

203 Fine Arts Taos, New Mexico
In Comparison – Further Evidence

Amarillo Museum of Art Amarillo, Texas

2015 Bienniel-600: Sculpture

2015-2017 GX Gallery London, England

University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming

2014 WCIAA Exhibitor

CCC College Plano, Texas Festival Guest Artist

2013 Beasty Phil Space Santa Fe, New Mexico

Art Santa Fe Santa Fe, New Mexico

2013-2014 Artist Project

2013-2016 203 Fine Art Taos, New Mexico

2011-2018 Alvorado Foundry Gallery Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

2011 San Francisco Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, California

Art & Design 20/21 Show Boston, Massachusetts

Tabreze, Arkansas Art Center Little Rock, Arkansas

Trinidad Center for the Arts Trinidad, Colorado

2010 Frenzy III Strange Animals

Art Actually Miami, Florida

2008-2010 Royal Caribbean Guest Artist

2010 Art Slant, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2010-2011 Melissa Morgan Fine Art Palm Desert, California

2009 Sculptural Ideas Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, New Mexico

Edgesposure, The Edge Gallery Santa Fe, New Mexico

2009-2011 GF Contemporary Santa Fe, New Mexico

2009-2011 Lombard Contemporary Art Orlando, Florida

2008 – Present Graphite NOLA New Orleans, Louisiana

2009 ArtScapes. Knoxville Museum Knoxville, Tennessee

2008 Talking Heads 707 Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2007 Affordable Art Fair New York, New York, New York

Martin Spei Intentional Grounding, Millenia Fine Art Orlando, Florida

2006 Millenia Fine Art Time Warner Center, New York, New York

2005-2008 Lyon & Lyon Fine Art New Orleans, Louisiana
Working Man, Sculpture of Martin Spei, Installation

2005 SOFA Chicago,Chicago, Illinois

2005, 2006 International Art and Design Fair, New York, New York

2005-2008 Palm Beach 3, Palm Beach, Florida

2005, 2006 Art Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

2004-2006 Addison Parks Gallery Santa Fe, New Mexico

2004 It Figures Group Show

2004-2005 Glass Garage Gallery Los Angeles, California
2004 Seventh Annual Art and Design Walk

Cline Fine Art Scottsdale, Arizona
The Figure Group Show

2004, 2005 Art Miami, Miami, Florida

2003 Taos Media Forum, All Points Gallery Taos, New Mexico
Mixed Media, Mixed Messages Group Show

2003-2005 Galerie Mark Hachem Paris, France

2003-2004 Zaplin Lampert Gallery Santa Fe, New Mexico

Shidoni Foundry Tesuque, New Mexico

2003 Outside the Box, Group Show

COMMUNITY EVENTS

2011 Art in Public Places Award Purchase, State of New Mexico

2008-2018 Annual Iron Pour
Mesalands Tucumcari, New Mexico

2014-2010 Annual Iron Gathering
Keen Foundry Invitational Houston, Texas

2014-2017 Iron Tribe

Highlands University Las Vegas, New Mexico

2012-2016 Annual Conference

Western Cast Iron Art Alliance

1997 Vermont Studio Center Residency, Johnson, Vermont

CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

GraMedica, Macomb, Michigan

Perry & Associates, PC, Encino, California

BZMZ Interests, Ltd., Houston, Texas

Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc., Toronto, Ontario

Memory Corp S.A., Bogata, Colombia

Feifel, Broadbent, Gareau and Gualazzi, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

AGT International, Zurich, Switzerland

AHG Group, Winter Park, Florida

Ritz Carlton, Denver, Colorado

Design in Motion, Coral Gables, Florida

Rykodisc, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Connextions, Inc., Orlando, Florida

Braeside Displays, Lake Bluff, Illinois

CED Companies, Maitland, Florida

Lauricella Land Company, LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana

Novak Construction, Chicago, Illinois

The Comex Group, Longtree, Colorado

Tigertail Events, Inc., Miami, Florida

PRI Project Development, New York, New York

Tawill Engineering, Inc., Orlando, Florida

Texas Pipeline and Supply Company, Houston, Texas

KODA Enterprises Group, Waltham, Massachusetts

YTech International, Miami, Florida