Voices of Contemporary Artists — Lecture Featuring Narsiso Martinez @ de Young

Join for the 8th annual Voices of Contemporary Artists Lecture. This year, the de Young is excited to welcome Narsiso Martinez, known for portraits made on discarded produce boxes that champion the dignity of migrant workers.

About the artist

Narsiso Martinez moved from Oaxaca, Mexico, to Los Angeles at age 20 to begin his artistic career. His portraits, set in agricultural landscapes, blend charcoal, gold leaf, and gouache on cardboard produce boxes. Martinez draws from a decade of experience as a seasonal farm laborer to fund his education. Since his 2018 solo debut, exhibitions like Super Fresh and Rethinking Essential have celebrated the often-invisible laborers who “feed America.” Martinez’s work is held in major institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.

The annual Voices of Contemporary Artists Lecture brings artists to the museums to inspire staff, guides, and the broader community through contemporary art practices. This event is held in memory of Mary Beth Hagey.