From VJing in small clubs to performance with Kendrick Lamar | Twos Talks with Shantell Martin | #9

Shantell Martin went from VJing in small clubs in Tokyo to performing with Kendrick Lamar and some of the most prestigious art institutes in the world. Her black and white works are not planned, but discovered in the moment, forming a visual language shaped by intuition and identity.
In this Twos Talks interview, Shantell Martin shares how live performance, intuition, and personal exploration shaped her journey from drawing in small venues to becoming one of the most recognizable contemporary artists today.
In this episode, Shantell Martin talks about:
• Growing up in London and discovering drawing through cartoons
• Moving to Japan to find her identity as an artist
• How live drawing in clubs shaped her visual language
• Developing a style through improvisation and repetition
• Why your artistic identity comes from within, not from others
• The role of music, rhythm, and movement in her work
• Transitioning from small venues to global stages
• Collaborating with Kendrick Lamar
• How opportunities come from doing the work and sharing it
• Approaching large-scale projects like New York City Ballet
• Working with institutions while maintaining artistic freedom
• The relationship between graphic design and her practice
• Why she doesn’t follow trends or social media expectations
• How artists can build confidence through repetition and patience
• The importance of creating without thinking too much
• Why finding your own voice requires ignoring external noise

TimeCodes:
00:00 Intro 
00:20 Shantell Martin
01:20 Why drawing?
02:40 Improvising whilst drawing
04:36 Finding your own style
06:55 Typography & layout
11:18 Moving to Japan
14:04 Collaborating with Kendrick Lamar
15:48 Working with favorite artists
16:58 New York City Ballet
21:50 Drawing & music
23:50 Ad break
24:43 Project brief & client
28:30 Interaction with audience
29:30 Finding your own style
31:58 Viral moments in your career
33:40 Being active in your community
35:16 Finding your space in world of art
37:27 Social media
40:00 Being fearless and confident of your art
46:49 Top 5 favorite artists & designers  

What helped you discover your own creative voice?

🎨 Design and artworks shown throughout the episode courtesy of www.shantellmartin.art
www.youtube.com/@ShantellMartin
You can also follow Shantell Martin on Instagram at:
www.instagram.com/shantell_martin

Intro animation by: Miray Erdeve
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