"Postal Code 10117" Painting

My name is Martta and I am a Spanish artist.
I paint what provokes me. And..what is provoke me?
The gaze holds immense power, and art has the ability to reveal it. In my practice, I question not only what we see, but how we see, and how perception is shaped by beliefs, emotions, and past experiences. I invite the viewer to look beyond surface vision, to understand that seeing is not merely physical but deeply interpretive.

We live in a world saturated with images, where the urgency to “see and be seen” often leads to consumption rather than understanding. My work explores this tension between visibility and invisibility: what do we truly perceive, and what escapes us? I am particularly drawn to those I call “the invisibles”—individuals who, though part of the crowd, remain unseen or ignored in collective narratives.

Through photography, I aim to capture what lies outside the frame of everyday attention: fleeting moments, hidden emotions, and overlooked details of urban life. Framing becomes essential—whether through crosswalks or other visual structures—to give presence to those on the periphery of our gaze.

Ultimately, my work asks a simple but vital question: how can we learn to see what usually goes unseen? I invite the viewer to pause, to look more consciously, and to reflect on the power of the gaze in shaping both visibility and reality.