Biography/CV:
Ted Martin is a retired art educator and a North Dakota native. His drawings are traditional, mainly drawn in pen, marker, and crayon. Raised on a farm in Mott, ND, his art depicts what he was surrounded by: working men and animals.
He has amassed such a portfolio since retirement, it's best to share.
Select Displays and Recognitions:
2025-Onward Rotating displays across Fargo businesses with The Arts Partnership of Fargo ArtWORKs
2025 81st Annual BAGA Fall Art Show (Juror’s Choice for “Mule Deer, Waiting”)
Collection of The State Historical Society of North Dakota
The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in GLBT studies
2025 Rourke Art Museum's 66th Annual Midwestern Exhibition
2024/2025 Rourke Art Museum’s Art Ghoullery show VII + VIII
2024 Solo Exhibitions at Mind Virus Counter-Culture Books & Media
2020/2021/2022 North Dakota Human Rights Arts Festival (2020 Winner of Best Drawing for “Guns”)
2019 Honoring Stonewall Art Exhibition
2016 The Plains Art Museum: Art on the Plains XII
Contact:
Graphite57701@gmail.com and @Tedmartinart on Instagram
Artist Statement:
I grew up on the prairies. As a child, I drew chickens, horses, cattle, and women. Most of my adult years, twenties to fifties, I've lived close to nature, so I spent time drawing wildlife and men. I no longer live close to nature. Fargo is quite urban, and I am adapting my drawing subject matter to it. Models vary from those who have posed to support themselves financially to those simply seeking to fulfill a fantasy of living eternally within a drawing.
I'm old. I'm retired. Drawing is a hobby that keeps me sane.
Mostly, I use black pens, illustration alcohol markers, graphite, and, lately, wax crayons.
I've used crayons before, but more as a painting technique. I use crayons for coloring subjects and adding textures to the backgrounds of drawings, usually paired with textured foam printing with ink brushed on for a cloudy sky effect above figures.
My drawings are an expression of my interests…
My life as a gay man.
