Martin will open to the public his first Houston gallery in a 2,000-square-foot space at 2625 Colquitt St., Houston, on Jan. 22. Martin already operates galleries that showcase his work, and that of other contemporary artists, in Colorado and Dallas.
“In addition to being home to a large portion of our private collectors, Houston is a dynamic and scene-setting art community—one that we have wanted to be a more integral part of for some time now,” Martin said in a press statement. “When this prime Upper Kirby District Gallery Row space became available last year, we knew we had to jump on it immediately. And we can’t wait to introduce Houstonians to the impactful offerings of our carefully curated roster of artists.”
The gallery will be divided into a larger, light-filled front section where paintings will be on display and a smaller back area designed for photography, according to a Jan. 11 press release. Guests who attend the Jan. 22 opening will see an opening exhibit titled "Expanding Horizons," which juxtaposes a selection of Martin's paintings with Western-themed photography from the Dallas artist Steve Wrubel.
The exhibit will be on display through mid-February, at which point a series of solo shows will begin rotating every six weeks. Artists in rotation for 2022 will include Amber Goldhammer, Melissa Herrington, Ian Kimmerly, Monica Perez and Isabelle Van Zeijl, while mainstay artists will include Christopher Martin, Paul Bloch, Kinga Czerska, Ysabel LeMay, Jeff Muhs, David Middlebrook and Steve Wrubel.
The Houston gallery will focus on the works of midcareer artists with a minimum of 10 years of experience, dedicated studio practices and the ability to produce site-specific projects, according to the release.
Martin—known for abstract paintings made through the practice of gilded glass—has previously contributed public artwork to Houston, including an outdoor piece at Wells Fargo Plaza downtown.
The gallery will be open from 4-8 p.m. Jan. 22. After that, it will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. It will be led by Executive Director Antonio Cortez, Director Ally Ondarza and Associate Director Abigail Henningsen. www.christophermartingallery.
