We are thrilled to announce a special evening with renowned Cuban American artist Jel Martinez at The Private Gallery on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 7 PM. This exclusive event invites collectors and art lovers to gather, meet the artist in person, and be among the first to experience his latest body of work.
Born in 1976 and raised in the heart of Miami's predominantly Cuban-American neighborhood of Westchester, Jel Martinez emerged from the city’s graffiti scene of the 1980s as an original member of the Ink Heads Crew. What began as a passion for tagging quickly evolved into a fascination with the act of “buffing”—the city’s effort to paint over graffiti. Rather than seeing it as erasure, Martinez viewed these layered walls as a new kind of urban canvas—one that captured a story of tension, resistance, and resilience.
His paintings channel the visual poetry of city decay, where time, weather, and human intervention leave behind ghostly remnants of what once was. Using texture-rich techniques and a mix of acrylic, enamel, oil, and ink, Martinez creates works that are simultaneously abstract and an authentic representation of reality. Each piece invites viewers to peel back layers of paint and memory, revealing echoes of the streets that raised him.
Martinez's work has been featured in notable exhibitions and venues, including Flip the Script in New York City, Urban Abstraction in Phoenix, and the RedLine Contemporary Art Center in Denver. His solo exhibition, Unintentional Collaboration, was showcased on Miami Beach, exploring how city efforts to erase graffiti inadvertently create new forms of art.
This intimate evening will offer attendees a rare opportunity to hear directly from Jel about his creative process and the stories embedded in his work. Whether you're a seasoned collector or newly curious about contemporary street art, this event promises to deliver a powerful and personal experience.
Event Details:
🗓️ Saturday, June 28, 2025
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 The Private Gallery at the Museum of Graffiti, 2521 NW 3rd Ave., Miami, FL 33127
Spots are limited—join us for a night of meaningful conversation, vibrant community, and raw artistic expression.