Meet the Artist Who Takes Doodling to a Whole Other Level

Shantell Martin uses almost any surface to doodle on, including her own walls. The British-born, New York-based artist is most recognized by her signature black and white drawings, experimenting with textiles, ceramics, circuitry, and embroidery.

“With a meditative process defined by an uninhibited flow, her compositions embody her internal state and the impermanence of the world around her,” reads her website. “Exploring themes such as intersectionality, identity, and play, Martin is a cultural facilitator, forging new connections between fine art, education, design, philosophy, and technology.”

Martin has been drawing since she was a little girl, doodling characters underneath her bed and inside the curtains in her bedroom. After graduating, she went to Japan to teach English in the countryside town of Komaki, and eventually settled in New York. She now teaches as an adjunct professor at NYU Tisch ITP (Interactive Telecommunications Program), where she works with her students to push the boundaries of storytelling, visual art, and technology.

“Intention is a very powerful aspect of existence,” said the artist in an interview with Create & Cultivate. “Essentially, and I think many people whether ‘artists’ or not, can relate to being fueled by a purpose or the search for purpose. This purpose is like the internal line which for me becomes something external with the lines of my art. I have a purpose which is very much tied to exploring the essence of humanity and the world… it comes from a place of pure curiosity and empathy and I feel that intention to connect with the deepest part of myself and YOU is a universal feeling.”

A fashion and design icon in her own right, Martin has collaborated with huge brands such as Nike, Vitra, Max Mara, Tiffany & Co., and in 2018, Puma launched a global capsule collection featuring her drawings. She also worked with legendary artists such as Kendrick Lamar and designer Kelly Wearstler.

Take a look at some of her work in the gallery below.