Patrick Martinez (b. 1980) is a Los Angeles–based artist whose paintings, sculptures and installations explore place, memory, cultural identity and social inequality. Born in Pasadena and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Martinez’s early involvement with graffiti taught him to closely observe the surfaces and visual language of Los Angeles, an influence that continues throughout his practice. Martinez earned his B.F.A. with honors from ArtCenter College of Design in 2005. Working with materials including distressed stucco, ceramic tile, security bars, neon and commercial signage, he creates layered works that evoke the changing urban landscape and histories of displacement, gentrification and cultural survival. His neon sculptures transform the familiar language of storefront advertising with quotations addressing migration, justice and civil rights. His work is held in collections including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; and The Broad, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.