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NIC MARTIN

  • 3 days ago
  • 1 min read

Nic Martin (b. 1997, Cold Lake, AB) is an Edmonton-based artist whose practice centers on plein air painting and woodblock printmaking. His work examines human geography—how people shape the environments they live in, and how those environments in turn influence daily life, identity, and culture. Working primarily in oil on small hardboard panels, Martin paints on location to immerse himself in the landscapes, neighbourhoods, and infrastructure he studies. This approach allows him to document spaces as they exist in real time, capturing both their immediacy and their ongoing change.


Martin’s practice spans economic, environmental, urban, and cultural geography. He is drawn to Alberta’s evolving cityscapes, transportation networks, industrial sites, and natural areas, exploring the tension between development and preservation. His paintings invite viewers to consider how environments are built, inhabited, and transformed and to reflect on their own place within these systems.


  • They put Christmas lights on a crane, 12x8in oil on hardboard 2025
  • What’s next for Holyrood, surely it’s not affordable, 12x8in oil on hardboard 2025

Click on the arrows on the side of the image to scroll through the gallery.


ABOUT NIC

Before earning his BFA from the University of Alberta in 2025, Martin apprenticed in carpentry, welding, and heavy-duty mechanics. These experiences inform his visual language and sensitivity to labour, materials, and the infrastructures that support modern life. His work has been exhibited at the Art Gallery of Alberta, FAB Gallery and SNAP Gallery.


Martin has received several distinctions, including the Natalka Horeczko Scholarship in Painting and Print-Design and The Livia Stoyke Foundation BFA Best of Show Award. He has also been shortlisted for competitive provincial and community-based programs, including the Alberta Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador position and the Boyle Street Community Services Artist Residency.


Find more of Nic's work at https://www.nicmartinart.com/

 
 
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