The New York City Ballet has a long, storied history of collaborating with visual artists. Each year, the organisation invites an artist to create a site-specific art installation for its Lincoln Center home. Now in its seventh year, the NYCB Art Series brings London-born, New York-based artist Shantell Martin and her trademark stream-of-consciousness drawing form to the New York City Ballet during the 2019 Winter performance period.
Martin grew up in South London and attended Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design. After graduating in 2003, Martin moved to Tokyo where she first experimented with live performance art. She became a well respected VJ , doing performative drawings during DJ sets. In 2003 Martin moved to New York. This period marked the next phase of her career, where she began to focus primarily on physical drawing. Since moving to the states her work has been seen in group shows at the Brooklyn Museum and Museum of the Moving Image, in solo exhibition at the Albright-Knox museum and MoCADA, and in a 75-minute performance with Kendrick Lamar in 2016 during Art Basel Miami.
To prepare herself for the project, Martin observed the dancers in class and rehearsal. Particularly interested in how dancers separate themselves as artists and as humans, she delved into their psyches through a questionnaire in order to learn more about what makes them tick. As a fellow creative, there was a certain kinship that Martin felt, which further fueled her excitement for the project.
New York City Ballet Art Series Presents Shantell Martin will be featured at three special performances on February 2, 8, and March 2 at 8 PM, with all tickets priced at $35. In addition to the show, attendees will enjoy a post-performance party and receive a limited edition commemorative takeaway designed by Martin.
Performances are on sale now at nycballet.com/artseries.