Storytime: Three Artists to Know - Eddie Martinez, Cecily Brown, and PIGSY

By Enid Bebbington

In this feature, we delve into the artistic journeys and distinctive styles of Eddie Martinez, Cecily Brown, and PIGSY with a guest blog by Enid Bebbington who writes about three of her favourite artists. While each of these contemporary artists comes from a unique background, they are all deeply influenced by expressionism, emphasizing emotion, gesture, and the physical act of painting. Through their works, they explore complex emotional themes, creating a balance between abstraction and figuration.

Eddie Martinez - The Power of Bold Colors and Graffiti-Like Expression

Eddie Martinez, a contemporary artist from New York, is renowned for his energetic and raw artistic style, blending abstraction and figuration. Born in 1977, Martinez's art is defined by his dynamic use of oil paint, acrylic, spray paint, and Sharpie markers, giving his compositions an almost graffiti-like intensity. His bold lines, vibrant colors, and layered textures create works that feel both spontaneous and deliberate, often transforming everyday objects like flowers into chaotic yet recognizable forms.

Martinez’s Unique Creative Process

Martinez’s creative philosophy revolves around a free-flowing process. He embraces imperfections, allowing mistakes to become part of the art. His use of found paper and recycled materials brings a street-art sensibility into the studio. Martinez's work bridges high and low culture, often incorporating cartoon-like figures that hover between abstraction and the recognizable. If you want to view an Eddie Martinez artwork in Europe, visit the Carmen Thyssen Museum in Madrid, where one of his striking paintings is on display.

PIGSY - Exploring the Human Psyche Through Expressive Abstraction

PIGSY (Ciaran McCoy), born in 1972 in Dublin, is a contemporary Irish artist whose expressive, gestural paintings explore deep psychological themes. With a background in architecture, Pigsy uses this structural knowledge to deconstruct and examine the layers of the human mind. His energetic brushstrokes and vibrant colors evoke powerful emotions, offering a glimpse into the subconscious.

PIGSY’s Raw and Deconstructive Style

Pigsy’s work is marked by bold, chaotic compositions that reflect personal emotions and inner turmoil. His use of mixed media, including gloss and spray paint, adds texture and depth to his canvases. By incorporating found objects and using tools like broken spray cans, Pigsy adds an unpredictable element to his work. His current exploration of "automatic sorrys" showcases his ability to reflect on personal and societal themes. Pigsy’s journey from architecture to art reveals his desire to break away from the confines of structure, embracing chaos and imperfection.

PIGSY is currently travelling in Mexico to gain artistic inspiration and will start a Dia de los Muertos themed Art Residency shortly in Ajijic, Jalisco.

Cecily Brown - Blurring the Line Between Abstraction and Figuration

Cecily Brown, a British painter born in 1969, is celebrated for her large-scale works that merge abstraction and figuration. Her paintings often explore themes of sexuality, carnality, and art historical references, drawing inspiration from Willem de Kooning, Francis Bacon, and Goya. Brown’s style is heavily gestural, with swirling brushstrokes that suggest movement and spontaneity.

Feminism and Art Historical Subversion in Cecily Brown’s Work

Brown’s works often depict human figures in motion, blending the abstract with hints of recognizable forms, including erotic scenes. Her engagement with paint is visceral, with each brushstroke conveying energy and emotion. Through her art, Brown challenges the male gaze and reclaims female sexuality, infusing her paintings with humor and irony. Her approach is intuitive, allowing the work to evolve during the creative process, which invites the viewer to interpret the fragmented forms in their own way.

Connections Between Eddie Martinez, PIGSY, and Cecily Brown

Despite their different backgrounds, Eddie Martinez, PIGSY, and Cecily Brown share several key similarities. All three emphasize the physicality of painting, using bold, expressive brushstrokes and textured surfaces. Martinez’s thick applications of paint, Pigsy’s chaotic compositions, and Brown’s fluid gestures each reflect a balance between chaos and control. They embrace spontaneity, allowing imperfection to play a crucial role in their process.

Blending Abstraction and Figuration

While each artist maintains a distinct voice, they all blur the line between abstraction and figuration. Martinez mixes cartoon-like figures with abstract forms, Pigsy explores emotional depth through deconstructive abstraction, and Brown combines figuration with dynamic brushwork. Their work is deeply personal, rooted in individual experiences and emotional narratives.

Challenging Traditional Boundaries in Contemporary Art

The artists' different career trajectories further emphasize their unique approaches. Eddie Martinez is largely self-taught, PIGSY transitioned from architecture to art, and Cecily Brown followed a traditional path through art education. Each of them, however, challenges the boundaries of their discipline. Martinez fuses fine art and street art, Pigsy breaks free from architectural constraints, and Brown subverts traditional depictions of the body, rejecting male-dominated conventions in art.

A Shared Artistic Vision

In summary, Eddie Martinez, PIGSY, and Cecily Brown share a commitment to exploring the tension between chaos and control, abstraction and figuration, and personal freedom versus traditional art forms. Their work reflects a shared philosophy of gestural expressionism, spontaneity, and the rejection of conventional boundaries. Their art speaks to both personal and universal experiences, making them key figures in the contemporary art world.

Whether it’s their technique, themes, or bold expression, these three artists stand out, and hopefully, you’ll enjoy their art as much as I do!