Shantell Martin’s work goes beyond art, it’s an immersive journey into storytelling, identity, and space transformation. With a rich background in collaborations, commissions, institutional projects, and museum shows, Shantell has been on a journey of mastering her line and the art of creating pieces that not only capture attention but also provoke thought and emotion. Her distinctive style, rooted in self-exploration and social consciousness, offers more than a visual tapestry.
In 2025, Shantell was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to British arts and charity. Her ability to see the bigger picture and address systemic challenges through her work uniquely equips her to tackle complex, meaningful projects. She is committed to pushing boundaries and creating a lasting impact.
Shantell Martin has collaborated with an inspiring array of corporate clients, cultural institutions, and world-renowned brands. Her work spans diverse industries, consistently breaking new ground through impactful, visually captivating projects.
Museum Shows/Installations
Whitney Museum, Denver Art Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art, Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, MoMA, Albright-Knox Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum.
Boards
British Ambassador’s Strategic Advisory Group, Governors Island Arts Advisory Board, Climate Museum Advisory Board, UAL Ambassador Board.
Institutions & Non-Profit Collaborations
92nd Street Y, Trust of Governors Island, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Art Production Fund, Keep a Child Alive, (RED), Public Art Fund, Nine Dot Arts, Global Citizen, AmFAR.
Brand Collaborations
Rimowa, Mattel/UNO, B&B Italia, Tiffany & Co., Flos, Kelly Wearstler, Vitra, The North Face, Jose Cuervo/1800, Max Mara, Kendrick Lamar, American Express, Martone Cycling Co., WME IMG/New York Fashion Week, Interview Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue, Canada Goose, United Arrows & Sons, KCA Black Ball, Golden Vines Awards, United Airlines.
Commissions
Rockefeller Center, Times Square Alliance, Art Production Fund, Sotheby’s, Fotografiska, Google, Airbnb, Facebook, Young & Rubicam, Mother New York, Adobe, Phillips Auction House, Christie’s, W Hotel Union Square.
At the core of art lies a special bond - a genuine relationship between the artist and the collector.
If you're drawn to the idea of owning an original piece by Shantell Martin, we invite you to explore our Shop. For those interested in a more personalized touch through commissioning, please send us an email.
Credits
Branding & Design by Anton & Irene with love
WHAT IS THIS ALL FOR
2026
Over 1,200 screens, four boroughs and one New York City full of Shantell Martin's questions.
Throughout October 2026, Shantell Martin brings WHAT IS THIS ALL FOR into the everyday movement of New York City through Moments by OUTFRONT. Launching across a network of nearly 1,200 digital placements, the project stretches from Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, appearing not in a single gallery or destination, but within the spaces New Yorkers move through every day.
Using Martin’s own typeface, Shantell Sans, bold black-and-white words and phrases interrupt the familiar visual language of the city.
Words have always been part of Martin’s drawing practice. For her, there is no hard separation between language and image. Letters are made from lines. A word can be a drawing. But words also arrive carrying history, emotion and consequence.
They can be poison, They can be medicine, They can provoke, They can comfort, They can ask something of us.
WHAT IS THIS ALL FOR takes that idea out of the studio and places it directly into public space. Rather than asking people to travel somewhere to encounter the work, the work travels into their day, onto a platform, along a commute, between one destination and another. And within spaces ordinarily filled with messages telling us what to buy, want or become, Martin inserts something less certain: A question, A thought. A moment of encouragement. An interruption. There is no required answer.
Someone might notice a phrase for three seconds and continue walking. Someone else might carry it with them for the rest of the day. That possibility is the work.
WHAT IS THIS ALL FOR launched October 1, 2026 through Moments by OUTFRONT across New York City. Select digital formats continue throughout October.
Art + concept: Shantell Martin
Animation: Ben Sheppee
Layout support: Marcio Kelmanson
Presented through Moments by OUTFRONT
