Bio

Holly Ballard Martz is a multi-disciplinary artist who makes conceptually based sculptures and installations. Through the transformation of familiar objects, she challenges societal norms and power structures while simultaneously encouraging viewers to question their perceptions. Known for her meticulously crafted work, Martz often addresses difficult or controversial subject matter under the guise of beautifully fabricated and embellished pieces.

Martz has exhibited extensively and her work is held in many prominent collections, including the Gates Foundation, the City of Seattle, and the University of Washington. Her monumental installation danger of nostalgia in wallpaper form (in utero) has been exhibited in multiple museums and is on display at the Gates Foundation through December 2023 as part of Designing Motherhood. She is the recipient of a McMillen Foundation Fellowship, an Artist Trust Grant for Artist Projects, a Seattle Office of Arts and Culture CityArtist Grant, and she was a 2022 Neddy Artist Award Finalist.

Education

1988
BFA Printmaking, University of Washington, Seattle WA
BA   Business Administration, University of Washington, Seattle WA
(Magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)