Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Mauro Martinez juxtaposes common pictorial forms from art history with the monotonous streams of online imagery that we, as an increasingly digital society, are so often subjected to. Skillfully utilizing metaphor, irony and dark humor, Martinez’s paintings respond to the doctrines of internet culture, at once critiquing and mocking our relationship with contemporary imagery.

00:00 - Introduction
04:09 - Humor and the Meme Paintings
07:53 - The Process of Self-Acceptance
10:46 - The Breakdown to a Breakthrough
11:43 - The Privilege Behind Social Media in Reaction to George Floyd's Murder
14:55 - Documentation Through Art
20:48 - Not a Provocateur with “Sensitive Content Series”
24:37 - Drug Addiction, Rehab, and Art Center
27:35 - The Loss of Mauro’s Brother and Using Painting as Healing
31:38 - Using Painting to Escape Drug Addiction
36:33 - Dark Humor and Past Trauma
39:14 - Next Stage of Career & Cancel Culture
42:47 - The View of Disposability Within Our Society
49:19 - Advice for Artists
53:05 - Wrap Up

Mauro’s Instagram
instagram.com/ztm_oruam

Mauro’s Website
maurocmartinez.com

Artist Decoded Patreon:
patreon.com/artistdecoded

Originally Posted 4.19.2021