Lift Up the Gift, 2018
My Narrative,
Works by Linda F. Martin
March 19 – May 10, 2026
Virtual Artist Talk: Monday, March 23, 7–8 p.m.
Recording Link and passcode = 81bC!5LD
Artist Talk and Reception: Sunday, April 12, 1–3 p.m. (talk @ 1:30 p.m.)
The Clare Gallery is honored to exhibit the collage fiber art of Connecticut artist,
Linda F. Martin. It is our second exhibition celebrating “Voices Left Out at the Founding of Our Country,” which is intended to celebrate our country’s 250th (semi-quincentennial) Anniversary from 1776–2026.
Martin has worked with fabrics much of her life. She appreciates their vast diverse patterns, textures, colors, and designs. Over the years, she loved the arts and regularly modified fabrics for her own clothing and home decor. Then in 2010, having been inspired by Hartford Stage’s production of Gee’s Bend (along with the beauty of the Gee’s Bend quilts and the quilters themselves) she committed to creating her first quilt. Since then, Martin has developed her unique artistic voice through collage fiber art. One could say she “paints” with fabric—its colors, designs, and textures—making work that speaks about her own lived experience, as well as the lives of others she chooses to portray. Her work is a testament to the history of quilting, as well as the future of collage fiber art, where the only material Martin utilizes is from the world of textiles.
Upon retirement, Martin was ready to embrace quilting and textile collage to enable her to share her own hidden gifts and stories. Through her work, she intends to create a conversation with her audiences explaining that it speaks to “who I am, where I come from, what I see, and where I am going.” For My Narrative, Martin says, “the pieces that I chose for this exhibit allow me to tell stories of my family, my spiritual belief and my political standing in this country.” She believes she is speaking and sharing her truth through her artwork.
Martin’s mantra is “Lift up the Gift.” As she explains, “I believe that if we give homage to God by lifting up our gifts to God, they will be blessed and multiplied.” These gifts are shared in many ways through the Clare Gallery exhibition—from the intricate and beautiful artwork, to the stories Martin reveals, to the sharing of the creative process she has expertly developed in her creative practice.
Linda F. Martin, a Hartford, CT native, began her journey as a collage fiber artist after a successful career in education administration. She has studied and is mentored by Edjohnetta Miller. Additional classes with Bisa Bulter and Susan Carlson have broadened her technical means of expression. Her quilts have been shown in group and solo exhibitions (in both virtual and traveling formats). Her work has also been published and won awards, and is included in private collections. You can find more information on Linda F. Martin through her website: www.coloredgirlart.com
