OVERVIEW
Redefining contemporary art within a traditional culture.
SERVICE
Catalog Design
Photograph Retouching
Production Management
Maria Martinez reinvented, reinvigorated, disrupted, and transformed San Ildefonso Pueblo pottery making. The Heard Museum’s exhibition and its catalog, Maria & Modernism, is an effort to feature this groundbreaking, female Indigenous artist and reveal her contributions to American Indian creative expression in the American Modernist era.
Martinez is perhaps the most famous American Indian artist in the world, and her influence is still being felt today. Works in the exhibition present her iconic, innovative, black-on-black ware in various forms. Also featured are collaborations with family members and other artists that push the boundaries of pottery design and modern art.
TYPOGRAPHY
Font selection is a fusion of form and function where words express artistic themes.
The deliberate choice of two contemporary typefaces serves not just as text but as visual elements reinforcing the catalog’s modernistic theme.
Trade Gothic, with its clean appearance, is impactful as it stands out from other content when styled for headings and chapter titles. Century Gothic, selected as the primary text font, pairs well and while modern also lends to legibility.
All Gallery Photography by Craig Smith
PHOTOGRAPHY
The scale of Maria’s work was captured within the finite dimensions of the catalog.
Since Martinez was known for working in a large scale, the photo presentation of her artwork was integral to the catalog design. In many instances, the works are depicted in a small format image and also by showing them at actual scale – cropping in to highlight the detail and intricacies of the art.
CATALOG DESIGN
Maria Martinez embodies the art. And the art embodies her.
The design philosophy behind this exhibition catalog transcends the confines of highlighting individual pottery pieces by instead featuring Maria Martinez's artistic journey and creating a narrative that celebrates her modernistic spirit. By revealing her methods, evolution, influences drawn from her worldly travels, and her business acumen, the book is a testament to Maria Martinez – not merely as a creator of art, but as the embodiment of a modernistic artist.
Featuring a contemplative Maria on the cover, the image reinforces the thoughts and personal influences behind the works of art. Additionally, the gray color blocking on the front cover and the title font selection (combining Maria’s signature with a contemporary typeface), reinforce the modern art as presented by an Indigenous artist with a traditional culture.
Throughout the catalog, the ample and deliberate use of white space creates visual contrast to Martinez’s iconic black-on-black pottery ware.
Hardcover, 208 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0-934351-07-2
“If you buy one ceramic monograph, Maria & Modernism, is the one to get.”
Garth Clark
Emeritus, Editor-in-Chief, CFile.Daily
“The catalog Maria & Modernism is both an elegant keepsake and essential reference.”
Antiques and the Arts Weekly
March, 2024
“Working with Brad is a delight. The Heard Museum’s publication, Maria & Modernism, was our third project together. He is consistently professional, and his work sets a high standard for excellence.
The thing I appreciate most about his approach is that he is patient and works thoughtfully to find the right look and feel for each project. The publications he has designed for us look completely different from each other, but each is beautiful and impactful.”
David M. Roche
Dickey Family Director and CEO, Heard Museum
“Maria not only reinvented, reinvigorated and disrupted Pueblo pottery-making, but she also boldly transformed the art form—a tenet of American Modernism.”
Roshii Montaño & Diana F. Pardue
Assistant Registrar & Chief Curator, Heard Museum
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