Tirzo Martha

Tirzo Martha is an artist born in Curacao.

Early life and education Tirzo Martha is an artist born in Curacao on June 16, 1965. In Curacao he studied at Academia di Arte Korsou (1983-1986). He then moved to the Netherlands to study at the Utrecht School of the Arts (1986-1989) and the Frans Molenaars fashion school (1989-1991). He returned back to Curacao in 1991.

Artistic career

Tirzo Martha is an artist who works with many mediums. He works with sculpture and video for his installations as well as performing in his own performance art. Tirzo accumulates many different objects to use for his artworks. Some of the objects he uses are concrete blocks, corrugated iron, wood, grout tubs, reinforcement baskets, car tires, tins, buckets, cages, lamps, straps, chairs and toilet bowls. These objects pay homage to his home town, Curacao.

Instituto Buena Bista Curacao Centre for Contemporary Tirzo partnered up with artist David Bade and founded the Instituto Buena Bista Curacao Centre for Contemporary known as the IBB, on the Island of Curacao. The institution provides a platform for contemporary artists with options for residencies and artistic courses for the youth.

The IBB holds educational artistic courses which are for students ages 16 through 26 to help them complete an art academy before they pursue an art career. They are taught on a college level through a master to apprentice approach to learn the lifestyle of a working artists.

The IBB holds four different residency programs. The first is a program for artists based in Curacao, the second for artists in Netherlands, a third for artists from all countries and the fourth for Caribbean youth who are interested in film making.

Solo exhibitions

2024- Intensive Care, van Bommel van Dam Museum, Venlo, The Netherlands 2023-Zitten, Zat, Gezeten, Nu Ga Ik Zwemmen! Museum Beelden Aan Zee, The Hague, The Netherlands 2023- Zitten, Zat, Gezeten, Nu Ga Ik Staan! The Hague, The Netherlands 2022-Chronisch Monochroom, Museo di Kòrsou, Curacao 2020-Het Huis Dat Nooit Af Is, CODA Museum, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands 2020-Paris Fashion Week 2017-‘Tirzo Martha, No Excuses’, Museum Beelden Aan Zee, The Hague, The Netherlands 2011-Afro-Victimize, The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, Miami 2010- San Juan San Pedro, Centre For Contemporary Art, Dordrecht, The Netherlands