Artworks

Martín Ramirez (1895-1963)

One of the most prominent self-taught artists of the 20th century, Martín Ramirez was born in Jalisco, Mexico in 1895. Following the political and religious turmoil that came with the Mexican Revolution, Ramirez immigrated to the United States in 1925 in hopes of providing a more stable life for his family. He worked in the California mines and railroads for about 6 years until 1931, when he was discovered by police in a disoriented state. Shortly after, Ramírez received a schizophrenia diagnosis and was committed to the DeSwitt State Hospital in Auburn, where he spent the rest of his life. 

In the hospital, Ramirez discovered a passion for art. The artist used every material accessible to create his works, from colored pencils and loose leaf paper to mashed potatoes and matchsticks. He was known for his iconic representations of Mexican imagery, and expressive patterning of train tracks, tunnels, and more. At times he collaged his works, adding images from newspapers, or pasting together his own work to stretch his enigmatic patterns to monumental proportions. By the end of his life, Ramirez had produced some 500 works, all imbued with his masterful sense of line, color, and one-of-a-kind perspective. Roberta Smith of the New York Times named him “one of the greatest artists of the 20th century” and he continues to be celebrated today in several exemplary collections worldwide.