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The Game, by Keith Morrow Martin, 1950s. Oil on canvas. 40 5/64 x 33 63/64 in. (101.8 x 86.3 cm). Maryland Historical Society, Accession: 1989-88-1.
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Black Venus, by Keith Morrow Martin, Oct 1953. Oil on canvas. 36 3/32 x 26 3/32 in. (91.7 x 66.3 cm). Maryland Historical Society, City Life Museums Collection, Accession: BCLMNN-26.
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Feast, by Keith Morrow Martin, 1969. Oil on canvas. 50 15/64 x 38 3/16 in. (127.6 x 97.0 cm). Maryland Historical Society, City Life Museums Collection, Accession: BCLMNN-3.
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Medium/Discipline: Painting, Works on Paper
Birthplace: Lincoln, Nebraska
Place of Death: Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland Affiliation: Active while in residence
Prominent Theme: Abstraction
Style/Period: Modern
Places of Residence: 1930s, Vienna, Austria, Paris, France, Berlin, Germany; 1934-41, New York City; 1941-5, Iceland and England
Gender: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Biography: Keith Martin, abstract artist, lived in Baltimore for 35 years where he enjoyed a prolific career and consistent patronage after living in New York, Iceland, England, France and Germany as part of the U.S. Army. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago for three years before traveling to Europe. Martin's abstract compositions sometimes contain realistic references or resemble surrealist landscapes of Miro and Dali. In an interview, Martin told scholar Brenda Richardson, "I think Salvador Dali was probably the most exciting influence during his stay in Paris, Berlin and Vienna in the 1930s." While in Paris, he had a one-man show at the Galerie Vendome and his work caught the eye of Gertrude Stein.
Upon return from Europe, Martin settled in Baltimore and showed his work frequently in Baltimore. In the 1950s and 60s he worked in collage as well as painting. Keith Martin lived with Dave McIntyre, former assistant director of administration at the Baltimore Museum of Art and Martin's companion for 35 years. He received an honorary doctorate from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1981; the citation read in part: Marylanders may be proud that this magician from Nebraska, after long journeying, chose 30 years ago to live and work in Maryland.
Education/Training: Chicago Art Institute
Art-related Employment: painter
Other Employment: costume designer
Selected References: Richardson, Brenda. Keith Martin: Collages (Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art), 1977.
Other Publications: Keith Morrow Martin Papers, Department of Special Collections, Syracuse University Library:
http://libwww.syr.edu
Maryland Institutions Holding Artworks: Baltimore Museum of Art (painting, drawings, prints); Maryland Historical Society
Single-Artist Exhibitions: New York; London; Galerie Vendome, Paris; San Francisco
Awards: Honorary doctorate, Maryland Institute College of Art
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