Who are you, and what do you do?

I’m a multidisciplinary artist and writer exploring themes of mental health, resilience, memory, and personal transformation. My work moves fluidly between poetry, painting, sculpture, and installation—wherever the idea wants to take me.

What inspires your art and writing?

Everything from lived experiences to fleeting moments of nostalgia. My work often revisits personal history, mental health struggles, and the weight of expectation—whether societal, familial, or self-imposed. I’m also fascinated by symbolism, particularly the octopus, which recurs throughout my work.

How do you balance writing and visual art?

I don’t force them to coexist—they just do. Sometimes I write first, and the imagery follows. Other times, a drawing or installation sparks a poem. It’s all part of the same language to me.

What’s the significance of the octopus in your work?

It represents a lot—self-sacrifice, societal expectations of women, the battles waged beneath the surface of everyday life. It’s also a deeply personal symbol of my mental health journey, something that’s always shifting and morphing but never fully disappearing.

About My Book

What is Unshackled about?

It’s a deconstructed autobiographical journey told through poetry, drawings, and diary entries. It captures moments of struggle, resilience, and self-reclamation, blending raw emotion with visual storytelling.

Why did you choose to publish under B.M.B. Martin instead of your full name?

I wanted to create a bit of distance between myself and the work—to let it exist without the filter of gendered assumptions. My name has never felt like the most important part of my art.

Is Unshackled autobiographical?

Yes and no. It’s deeply personal, but I don’t view it as a straightforward memoir. It’s more like a collection of moments—some lived, some reimagined—woven together through poetry and art.

Will there be another book?

There’s always something in the works

Art & Exhibitions

What kind of art do you create?

Whatever feels right in the moment. I move between poetry, painting, sculpture, and installation, often incorporating elements of found objects and raw materials. Lately, my work has been about reclamation—of self, of memory, of space.

Where can I see your artwork?

I post about exhibitions and projects on social media.

Do you take commissions?

Not anymore. I spent years shackled to portrait commissions and tailoring my work to what others wanted. Now, I create for myself. That said, if something I’ve already made speaks to you, we can chat.

Creative Process & Background

What’s your background in art and writing?

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mount Allison University (2010), completed an artist residency at the Toronto School of Art (2010), followed by a Masters in Contemporary Art from Oxford Brookes University (2014). But more than that, I’ve been writing and creating for as long as I can remember. My diaries have always been a space for experimentation, and that’s where Unshackled was born.

Do you have any creative rituals?

Music is a constant. I can’t focus without it.

What’s the significance of journaling in your work?

It’s the rawest form of expression. There’s no audience, no expectation. Just unfiltered thoughts. Many of my poems started as diary entries, so journaling has always felt like the foundation of my creative practice.

Do you teach or mentor other artists?

Not formally, but I love creative conversations. If you’re looking for guidance, I’m always happy to chat.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and writers?

Keep making things. Keep playing. Don’t let perfectionism or external expectations dilute your voice.

Do you accept speaking engagements or collaborations?

I’m open to it. If you have something in mind, feel free to reach out.

How can I support your work?

By engaging with it—reading, sharing, coming to exhibitions. Even just sending a message saying something resonated with you means a lot.

What’s next for you?

Lots of things—a fiction book, a possible PhD, more exhibitions. I’ll share as it unfolds.