JAMES MARTIN

James Martin worked primarily with gouache on brown paper, and sometimes added ink, graphite, charcoal, or collage while framing his own work. His figurative scenes are at first glance humorous, with a myriad of characters from parrots, fish, and monkeys to Shakespeare, Picasso, mermaids, and pilots. A closer read reveals Martin's ingenuity; he often utilized subtle visual word play, veering headlong into topics that without his deft hand might feel weighty. Martin used his free-flowing style of painting to depict a never-ending stream of characters. He certainly wasn't one to shy away from ideas or issues that at the corners of our collective psyche.


Martin held a BA from the University of Washington, Seattle, and showed his work at Foster/White Gallery for nearly two decades. His work was shown across the Northwest, including the Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA; and Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, WA, and Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA. His paintings were shown alongside other Northwest Artists such as Morris Graves, Kenneth Callahan, and Mark Tobey, of whom Martin was a contemporary. James Martin is also the subject of Sheila Farr’s 2001 monograph, “James Martin: Art Rustler at the Rivoli.” His work is in collections such as that of Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA; the Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA; and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

James Martin passed away on December 15, 2020. He was 92.

In Memoriam | James Martin, 1928 - 2020

James Martin on History Link

James Martin CV

James Martin 2015 Exhibition Catalog Journey Encounter with Day Glo

James Martin 2013 Exhibition Catalog Whole Cloth and Mirrors

9 X 11.5 in. - $1,050.00
James Martin Artwork 'Ride Of Tomorrow, Electric Power' | Available at fosterwhite.com
19.75 X 17.5 in. - $1,600.00
James Martin Artwork 'M.M.' | Available at fosterwhite.com
15 X 18 in. - $1,450.00
James Martin Artwork 'Camel Crossing' | Available at fosterwhite.com
13.5 X 17.5 in. - $1,400.00
James Martin Artwork 'Untitled (Camel)' | Available at fosterwhite.com
17.5 X 26 in. - $2,500.00
James Martin Artwork 'Green Harp' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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15.25 X 18.5 in. - $1,500.00
James Martin Artwork 'Eureka' | Available at fosterwhite.com
24 X 27 in. - $4,200.00
James Martin Artwork 'English Market Place' | Available at fosterwhite.com
15 x 21.5 inches - $1,600.00
Burnt Toast
21 x 17 inches - $1,700.00
Pretzel Painter
8 X 4.5 in. - $500.00
James Martin Artwork 'Cow And The 1st Baptist Church' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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17.5 X 10.5 in. - $1,350.00
James Martin Artwork 'Apple' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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42.5 X 9 X 2 in. - $1,600.00
James Martin Artwork 'Broom Lady' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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19.5 X 23.5 in. - $1,850.00
James Martin Artwork 'Das Boat' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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29.5 X 10.5 in. - $1,550.00
James Martin Artwork 'Butcher Paper Honesty' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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15.75 X 20 in. - $1,550.00
James Martin Artwork 'The Florist' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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James Martin Artwork 'Mary Had A Little Lamb With Fleece As White As SnowÉ' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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17.5 X 20 in. - $3,400.00
James Martin Artwork 'Lion from the Three Week Pudding Zoo' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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18 X 26 in. - $2,200.00
James Martin Artwork 'Bungalow Clock + Glass Sidewalk' | Available at fosterwhite.com
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