Kunle Martins
Earsnot IRAK | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kunle F. Martins Jr. 1980 (age 44–45) |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Known for | Founder of IRAK crew |
| Movement | Graffiti |
Kunle Martins is an American artist. He was born in 1980 in New York, where he currently lives and works.[1] In 1997, Martins founded IRAK, a graffiti crew that included Dash Snow, Dan Colen, Joey Semz and Ryan McGinley among others.[2]
As a graffiti artist, Martins gained notoriety tagging as Earsnot. More recently, Martins’ artistic practice has been based in portraiture. He has also collaborated with Dover Street Market, Supreme, and Adidas.[3] Martins is represented by the New York gallery 56 HENRY.[4]
Solo exhibitions
[edit]Martins most recently exhibited works in 2021 at Bortolami Gallery in New York, in a solo show titled S3ND NUD3S.[5] He presented What’s Up Fam? at 56 HENRY in early 2020,[1] and Portraits: Looking Like a Snack at Shoot the Lobster in New York in early 2019.[6]
Group exhibitions
[edit]In spring 2019 Martins collaborated with contemporary artist and romantic partner Jack Pierson on the exhibition Pee Party at Jeffrey Stark in New York.[7] Martins' work has appeared in other group shows at galleries and cultural institutions throughout the United States and Europe, including The Hole, New York; Beyond the Streets, New York; White Columns Benefit Auction, New York; Amelchenko, New York; Bonnie Poon, Paris; Coney Art Walls, New York; Wynwood Walls, Miami; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; and Clayton Patterson Gallery, New York.
Personal life
[edit]Martins identifies as gay.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kunle Martins". 56 HENRY. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Noah (2021-08-30). "The Untold Story of Downtown New York's Most Legendary Graffiti Crew". GQ. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ "56 Henry, Kunle Martins". 56 Henry, Kunle Martins. 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ "56 Henry, Artists". 56 Henry, Artists. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ "S3ND NUD3S — BORTOLAMI". S3ND NUD3S — BORTOLAMI. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ "Kunle F. Martins". Shoot The Lobster. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ "Kunle Martins and Jack Pierson invite you to their 'Pee Party'". Document Journal. 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ Johnson, Noah (30 August 2021). "The Untold Story of IRAK, Downtown New York's Most Legendary Graffiti Crew". GQ. Retrieved 2022-05-02.