The Hannah Traore Gallery (HTG) was created to host the visual art of the underrepresented talents, those who have for the longest been “left out the conversation.” Rachel Martin’s first solo exhibition at the HTG represents the continuous effort from the gallery and its team’s success to advocate diversity in the art world.

Rachel cultivates her art with a deep and intrinsic appreciation towards her Tlingít heritage. Most of her work is achieved with a concise combination of colored pencils, graphite, and archival papers, with sometimes the addition of colorful and enigmatic collage masks, there to enhance their dramatic presence.

The artist grew up between Southern California and Montana (Fort Peak Indian Reservation), where she was able to tap into Tlingít culture and its sets of traditions.

This first solo exhibition takes its title from the eponymous work “Bending the Rules” (2024), a bright pink-toned piece depicting a bent-over human figure with a tradition mask. In Rachel’s art there’s life in all its aspects: laughter, meditation, sadness, and both ancient and modern history.

Bending the Rules (2024). Courtesy of Cultural Consel.

Hot Girl Summer (2024). Courtesy of Cultural Counsel.

”Love is a tide is a taste is a seed is a tree” (2024). Courtesy of Cultural Counsel.

“WolfBrows 4 Life (Benderseries)” (2024). Courtesy of Cultural Counsel.

“If our table could talk” (2024). Courtesy of Cultural Counsel.

From September 5th to November 9th (2024), the art work of Rachel Martin will be displayed on the walls of the Hannah Traore Gallery. For more details, check the gallery’s website.