Bio

Martin Sorger’s interest in drawing and painting began at an early age and led him to the University of Rochester where he studied with Michael Venezia and received degrees in Fine Arts and Art History, then to Pratt Institute, where he received a Master’s of Science in Communications Design. Despite receiving early enthusiasm and attention for his art, Martin embarked on a successful career in high-end graphic design for clients ranging from tech start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Migrating to management, Sorger spent more than a decade as creative director for a Hollywood film production company, a multimedia technology developer, and an online gambling group. This challenging, high-pressure work left only a limited amount time for sporadic bursts of painting. 

A reawakened passion

Since 2018, Sorger has refocused his time and attention on painting, moving from encaustic works to painting on paper and wood. This transition was partially inspired by a design project for a Japanese tea company, which led to extensive exploration with ink and brushes on paper. It was the first time in his years as a designer that Sorger’s commercial work and creative life overlapped. This intersection proved serendipitous. “Working on paper gave me a way to move forward and explore new challenges,” recalls Sorger. “It enabled me to search for new ways to balance minimalism and expressiveness.” The search continues with Sorger’s latest work on wood, which exhibits a more tangible physical presence and broader color palette – expanding the boundaries of Sorger’s ongoing artistic exploration.