BASIC INFORMATION

Name: Tirzo Martha, 16 June 1965
Place of birth: Curaçao
Based in: Curaçao
Discipline: Installation, sculpture, video, and performance art

EDUCATION

1999 — Training and refresher course, Dealing with Problem Youth
1989–1991 — Molenaar Fashion School, The Netherlands
1986–1989 — Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, The Netherlands
1983–1986 — Akademia di Arte Korsou, Curaçao

BIOGRAPHY

Tirzo Martha is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice encompasses installations, sculpture, video, and performance. His work reflects a deep humanitarian and social commitment and frequently addresses the functioning of contemporary society. Drawing on the construction environment of Curacao, THE everyday life, he works with materials such as concrete blocks, corrugated iron, wood, grout tubs, and reinforcement baskets. His installations are often monumental.

In 2006, Martha co-founded Instituto Buena Bista (IBB) – Curaçao Centre for Contemporary Art with artist David Bade. Since 2016, IBB has collaborated with Kunsthal Rotterdam through AYCA – All You Can Art.
Over the past three decades, Martha has also shared his experience as a guest lecturer and teacher at art academies arround the world and postgraduate institutions, served on advisory commissions, and worked as a guest curator.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

Solo exhibitions
2025 — CODA Museum, The Netherlands
2024 — Intensive Care, Museum van Bommel van Dam, 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, Curaçao
2020 — Het Huis Dat Nooit Af Is, CODA Museum, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
2020 — Paris Fashion Week, Paris, France
2017 — Tirzo Martha: No Excuses, Museum Beelden aan Zee, The Hague, The Netherlands
2011 — Afro-Victimize, The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, Miami, United States
2010 — San Juan San Pedro, Centre for Contemporary Art, Dordrecht, The Netherlands

Group exhibitions
Martha has participated in numerous group exhibitions internationally.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Tirzo Martha, Sjors Bindels, Adi Martis, and Rob Perrée. Chronic Monochrome. Jap Sam Books, 2024. ISBN 978-94-93329-18-8.
Rob Perrée, ed. Tirzo Martha: I Wonder If They’ll Laugh When I’m Dead. Jap Sam Books, 2017. ISBN 978-94-90322-88-5. Recipient of a Best Dutch Book Design award, 2017.
Michiel van Kempen. “Papiamentu – Met heel haar klankenweelde, is geen vreugde of verdriet voor mij onzegbaar” (“Papiamentu – With All Its Wealth of Sound, No Joy or Sorrow Is Unspeakable to Me”). In Zwarte Pracht: Cultuur uit de voormalige Nederlandse koloniën. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Van Oorschot, 2025, pp. 207–214. ISBN 9789745242326. Includes discussion and an image of Protehá e Wardador.

AWARDS

2021 — A primary school in Curaçao was named Skol Tirzo Martha
2019 — Wilhelmina Ring, awarded for his body of work
2009 — Cola Debrot Prize together with Tony Monsanto
2005 — Designed the 5- and 10-guilder coins of the Netherlands Antilles