Joris Martens lives and works in a forest in Flanders, Belgium where he investigates the fluid identity of nature and man. He practices visual storytelling with emotional impact to induce empathy. His work is included in international art collections, counting the MoMa Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Plantin Moretus Museum in Antwerp.

Joris Martens works with various media, the core of which is drawing. Lithography is his favorite medium for advanced mark making. By drawing and printing, he evokes seemingly effortless day to day life’s mute complexity. Furthermore his works on paper give birth to paintings, wall paintings, glass objects, installations, animation films..but also to industrial products and designs as printed textiles, woven textiles and wallpapers. Joris Martens’ integrity, versatility and professionalism often brings him to Finland, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, China, Japan.. He speaks more than a handful of languages out of love to understand, meet and help people.

Joris Martens is looking for a deeper experience and consciousness in which communication and unison is central. Drawing is a way for Joris Martens to be present in the moment and to record the experience at the same time, disregarding existing conventions. Works on paper are in his view tools to reach the other: The viewer becomes a participant within an architecture or play of internalization and is invited to give meaning. Change is continuous..

In September 2021 Joris Martens is about to release his first collection of JORIS MARTENS STUDIO signature, sustainable products. This new brand called 'Design by Nature' enables Joris’ favourite prints to be accessible for private customers too. With inventive print and product design the brand wants to create a direct contact with people, be it the art, design, urban, nature lovers or sporters. Everything is connected and Joris Martens likes to unite people through art and design. In doing so making the world a better place to live, introduce sustainable methods and promote local labour.

Curriculum Vitae