PSFK Talks to Artist and VJ Shantell Martin

After spending the past five years in Japan, artist and VJ Shantell Martin has decided to give NYC a go and is ready to see how her unique form of live storytelling translates in her new home. Despite having only arrived a few days ago, Shantell seemed quite at ease when she swung by the PSFK offices for a chat today. Sporting a recently purchased Peek Pronto and an open attitude, Martin spoke to us about making the transition and her upcoming plans – and even left us a one of kind illustration to keep.

Among other things, Shantell discussed how, while in many ways Japan is a very closed society with its own deeply ingrained traditions, she discovered that their was real value in being foreign there if you could find a niche that worked for you. Perhaps most surprisingly, she felt that aspects of its hyper-Americanized culture gave her an idea of what to expect when she finally reached the States. Now that she’s here, Martin is finding inspiration in the gritty appeal of the city streets that stand in stark contrast to the clean, streamlined style of Tokyo’s modern landscape. And though NYC is often pointed to as the archetypal example of rude, crude Americanism, Martin is finding the energy and openness of its residents a refreshing change from Japan’s preoccupation with personal space where random conversations with strangers don’t generally happen.

As far as upcoming projects, Martin is excited by the possibility of bringing her brand of art to an entirely new audience and is already scheduled to headline the Digital Graffiti festival – a juried competition showcasing digital artwork – taking place June 6th at Alys Beach in Florida. We look forward to seeing the continued evolution of Shantell’s work in light of her new immersion into the city.

More about Shantell on PSFK.com:

Letting the Artist Take Control to Tell One of a Kind Stories – PSFK.com

VJ Captures the Moment With Live Illustration – PSFK.com