Bernard Murray Martin (American, 1935-2021), Figure

Oil and mixed media on canvas collage, circa 1960, retaining artist label to verso, framed.

Frame dimensions 21 1/4 x 21 1/2 in.

Bernard Murray Martin was an influential artist and educator born in Ferrum, Virginia. He earned a BFA from Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU) and an MFA from Hunter College. As the founding chair of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Painting and Printmaking, he played a central role in shaping art education in the region.

Martin’s work spanned conceptualism, text-image combinations, and pop-cultural commentary. He exhibited widely and is represented in major collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He received honors including NEA and VMFA fellowships and the Pollak Lifetime Achievement Award.

Toning and staining to the canvas, possibly intentional.