Polaroid Wisdoms - Gallery — colinmartinez.xyz

Colin Martinez

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Colin Martinez (b. 1999 Columbus, OH) is a visual artist and landscape architect who lives and works in Chicago, IL.

Polaroid Wisdoms, 2025

Polaroid Wisdoms is a series of photographic works that distill contemporary proverbs into the consumable medium of polaroid film. Drawing on the aesthetics of internet culture, fleeting, poetic phrases are juxtaposed with the nostalgic immediacy of Polaroid photography. Each image becomes a vessel for reflections on divinity, grace, humility, fame, and the contradictions of contemporary life.

The works are intimate yet universal, pairing evocative text with snapshots of everyday moments—kittens nestled together, a heart-shaped sign pleading for salvation, or the glow of streetlights against an empty night sky. These frames are at once playful and profound, inviting viewers to pause and consider the wisdom embedded in the mundane. In their simplicity, these images offer a quiet space for reflection amidst the chaos of modern life.

Polaroid Wisdoms debuted at the 2025 Dense Magazine Jersey Art Book Fair.