Jel Martinez -- Cuban-American born in Miami, Florida -- currently resides and creates in Miami. His artistic vision is deeply rooted in the often fraught process of vandalism removal and originates in the graffiti art of the late 80s when he was a founding member of the Ink Heads Crew. His work astutely comments on the paradox wherein metropolitan cleanup crews dismantle one form of wall art only to give rise to another. Martinez's paintings seamlessly merge earlier artistic street art trends with a figurative style known as “buffs,” conferring a distinct post-modern aesthetic. His “buffs” manifest as contemporary patterns, resulting in a visual tapestry. Drawing from his immersion in modern-day contemporary culture, Martinez infuses his work with a fresh take on expressionism. His canvases mirror intricate layers of build-up found in the urban environment. His highly textural work incorporates acrylic, enamel, oil, and ink. These materials converge to form a mosaic of free-floating patches of color, akin to the buffs found in urban settings. Martinez’s artistic journey is a dynamic interplay of creation and deconstruction. His paintings extend an invitation for viewers to partake in the daily dialogue between the human and built environment where layers of expression converge and converse with a city's inhabitants. In his pieces, you can witness the layers of colors, the natural wear and tear from weathering, and the peeling of paint over time. His paintings are the result of an intricate process involving layering, marking, removing, and embracing decay, all woven into one visual story.