With the world in an unprecedented state of conflict, there has never been a more dire need for open and honest dialogue. Issues of global health, racial and social injustice, political divide, and environmental crisis can only be managed when we are able to look at one another as fellow members of the human species.

This body of work explores these topics and others through abstract expressionism.

Society has a way that forces us to think and choose only the extremes on each end of the spectrum. Left or right. Black or white. Darkness or light. Through day-to-day life, we are met with a series of intersections — paths crossed, decisions made, personal encounters. Choices on every front including faith, politics and how we treat others.

Every decision we make, regardless of how small, impacts not only ourselves and those around us, but in turn, they affect civilization as a whole. These intersections have sadly given birth to some of society’s most vile realities such as racial injustice and tension, nationalism, corruption and discrimination of all kinds.

This body of work is seen through my own lens and reflects the extremes of black and white and the shades of gray representing compromise and the hope for peaceful coexistence.

Life is a journey full of experiences that shape humans into who they are. Every moment, every decision, and every action leaves a mark that becomes part of one's story. The exhibition Life Underway by J. Kent Martin presents a collection of abstract assemblages that explores the concept of life and its transformative effect on individuals.

Constructed from 55 panels of reclaimed Masonite sheet and shipping crate lumber chosen to symbolize the artist's 55 years of life thus far, the materials used in the collection represent movement, salvation, and making the most of what one has in life. Through an intentional use of the imperfections and irregularities of the raw materials and their construction, the artist underscores the idea of flaws and how they are part of the human experience.

Each panel was first individually painted with thickened paint, applied with either straight brushstrokes or in an almost plaid pattern, creating the foundation for each piece. Additionally, J. intersects the panels with sections of reclaimed 120-year-old construction timber, charred to symbolize a resurgence in life, reminiscent of slash-and-burn cultivation in agriculture where the land is cleared by burning, resulting in a nutrient-rich layer of soil to grow new crops.

All the elements are then singly assembled into sculptural compositions, allowing the materials to dictate the outcome of the pieces - encouraging the audience to find beauty in the unexpected. The use of acrylic and oil paints, as well as materials like cattle markers and black tar, creates a visual dialogue between the materials themselves as they dry and react to each other. The abstract nature of the assemblages invites viewers to interpret each piece in their own way, making it personal to their own life experiences.

The collection is not meant to be a literal representation of any specific thing or event but rather a reflection of the artist's personal journey and a celebration of life's lessons. Life Underway is a thought-provoking, introspective, and visually stunning exhibition that encourages the audience to celebrate the journey of life and the marks it leaves on them. It’s an exploration of the interconnectedness of all things and the way that experiences shape humans in unexpected ways.

Life is an uncertain road. One day at a time we take a step forward greeted with new joys and successes but also with challenges and doubts. Crossroads appear when we need to make difficult decisions or events that are beyond our control lead us down an unexpected path; however, these monumental points in our lives build our character and decide who we are. With this collection I express these themes in mixed media two-dimensional works and concrete sculpture. Cast then broken, carved, and chiseled, both the strength and fragility of the material decide their final form, each uniquely beautiful and expressive.

My creative process is a celebration of the unexpected, a salute to the unscheduled and unforeseen. Each piece is a reminder to live in the moment, to live each day with hopefulness, to explore and to expect the unexpected every day.