Jan 30, 2025

Keynote: Drawing the Lines: Exploring identity through art

Shantell Martin

About this video

Description

While reflecting on her diverse experiences with poetry readings, musical performances and live drawings, Shantell uses her interactive and spontaneous approach to engage audiences in a rich dialogue at the crossroads of music, movement, wordplay, storytelling and social commentary. This talk delves into themes that include intersectionality, identity, play, creativity and intentionality, guiding a dynamic exploration meant to inspire and empower. Whether your goal is to cultivate creativity within your organization, navigate the complexities of identity and diversity or unlock your own creative potential Shantell will leave you inspired, energized and ready to chart your own path toward a more vibrant and connected future.

Shantell Martin

From fashion and celebrity collaborations to adjunct professor positions at MIT Media Lab, NYU Tisch ITP, Columbia University’s Brown Institute and choreographing a ballet at the Boston Ballet, Shantell’s LINE constantly evolves. Creating new connections between fine art, education, design, philosophy and technology, Shantell explores themes such as intersectionality, identity and play. Shantell has carved a path for herself as a producer and visual artist with solo shows at renowned art institutions including the Albright Knox Gallery and the New Britain Museum of Contemporary Arts. At the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, she created a large-scale wall installation and worked with the Institute’s research group to explore how visual and computerized storytelling might influence media and technology innovation. At the NYU Tisch ITP (Interactive Telecommunications Program), she works with her students to push the boundaries of storytelling, visual art and technology. A fashion and design icon in her own right, Shantell has collaborated with iconic brands such as Vitra, Max Mara, Tiffany & Co and B&B Italia. In 2021, The North Face launched a global capsule collection featuring her drawings inspired by pieces from their Search & Rescue archive. Shantell has also collaborated with legendary artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Kelly Wearstler. Some awards Shantell has received are the 92Y, Extraordinary Women Award (2019), Shorty Award - Best in Art (2019), MoCADA Museum - Artist Advocacy Award (2017) and the Intel Women Who Spark Award - Women in Technology (2015).