The Moyer Martinez Grant is a yearly gift to support the practices of young artists from the five boroughs of New York.
Past recipients have all been students of Free Arts NYC, which empowers youth from underserved communities through art and mentoring programs.
This is a nonrestrictive gift, not specified to scholastic pursuit. Recipients have complete control over their use of the funds. The Moyer Martinez Grant is funded directly by Sam Moyer & Eddie Martinez.
Grant Recipients
2024 - Ameya Williams
Ameya is a High School Senior whose practice spans digital and traditional mediums. “Right now, I'm focused on completing three paintings for my senior art show with the theme of death and decomposition. I’m completing my college applications for art schools for a BFA in Illustration or Fine Arts. With my art, I focus a lot on color and facial expressions, and sometimes, there's not even a theme - I’ll just draw what's on my mind. A recent theme was “Fruits Of Nature,” where I drew people to symbolize fruits.”
Instagram: @ArtJinx69
Untitled, 2023
Acrylic on paper
8 x 10 in
Fruits Of Nature, 2024
Digital Painting
Untitled, 2024
Oil on canvas
10 x 8 in
Untitled, 2024
Acrylic, watercolor, oil pastels, and marker on paper
2024 - Keith Feliciano
Keith is a Senior at the High School of Fashion Industries (HSFI) with a passion for character design and storytelling. Drawing inspiration from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, he is creating Atropa’s Memoir, a project that explores the contrasting personalities of two characters navigating a surreal, maze-like world. Keith plans to pursue a BFA in Animation or Illustration at Laguardia College. “My biggest joy is creating art that tells a story, and I’m currently working on a passion project called “Atropa’s Memoir,” which will be a webcomic someday!”
Instagram: @0nderlandie
Self Portrait, 2024
Graphite on Paper
Still Life: Kleenex, 2024
Oil on Canvas Paper
Plufina, 2024
Digital Art
Still Life, 2024
Charcoal on Paper
2023 - Leah Del Rio
Leah is a Freshman at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She enjoys her classes is learning Italian, and is on a dance team. Leah’s artwork often centers around architecture, nature, her heritage, and other cultures.
Instagram: @leahmarie43006
Nature Still Life, 2022
Acrylic on Canvas
Baby in Womb, 2024
Oil pastels
10 x 8 in
Mi Bisabuela, 2024
Watercolor and yarn
2022 - Isaura Sosa
Isaura is in a five-year architecture program at City College, driven by her passion for how art and architecture influence emotions and create a sense of belonging. As an immigrant, she understands the challenges of leaving home and the need for spaces that offer comfort and connection. This experience motivates her to design welcoming, meaningful environments. For Isaura, architecture is a way to blend function with beauty as well as an art form to express culture and identity.
Instagram: @xo_isaura
Untitled sketch, 2024
Graphite and colored pencil
8.5 x 8 in
Untitled sketch, 2024
watercolor and marker,
8.5 x 8 in
Untitled sketch, 2024
graphite
8 x 8.25 in
Untitled**, 2024
Charcoal and Graphite
12 x 9 in
** commissioned by Free Arts NYC as a gift for Christopher Wool based on a Polaroid 20x24 photograph taken by Wool
2022 - Yeasin Haque
Yeasin attends Baruch College, studying Digital Marketing and Philosophy. “I am currently working on reshaping my photographer identity. Tensions grow between curiosity and obstacle, and my view of the world evolved. This made a profound change in my identity as a photographer; I’ve been spending a lot of time honing in on the nature of my spark to reconnect with my abstract views on composition. Centering myself, hoping to build a productive ritual when I need a reminder of what I am capable of producing”
Instagram: @Yeasinsgallery
Textures (4 Images), 2024
Photographs
Textures (4 Images), 2024
Photographs
Textures (4 Images), 2024
Photographs
Textures (4 Images), 2024
Photographs
2022 - Yaqueline Garcia Hernandez
“I graduated from FIT in 2023 with a BA in Illustration. I’m currently working as a Studio Assistant for Derek Fordjour. My current personal practice is creating a series of oil paintings of figures in my community that revolve around my cultural heritage. Other current works are collaborative graphic design projects for Jowong a Korean Mexican Fusion restaurant in Mexico City run by my Mentor, Dara, who I've stayed connected with since meeting her through Free Arts NYC in 2017”.
Instagram: @YakiHernan_
Haru and Sky, 2024
Acrylic on Canvas
24 x 20 in
Untitled, 2019
Watercolor on paper
12 x 9 in
Untitled, 2022
Oil on Aluminum panel
20 x 16 in
Marigold, 2023
Digital
2021 - Jose Vasquez
Jose is studying for his BFA at Hunter College. He is currently working on character design and the script for his comic book. Additionally, Jose is working to create his own clothing line with his original artwork. Jose shared: “I’m really excited to put my comic panels together and I can’t wait to share with everyone on social media!”
Instagram: @neon6741
Me
Marker and Ink
9 x 10 in
Electro-nics
marker and ink
Weirdness, 2024
Digital drawing
Excelsior
paint, ink, markers
10 x 9 in
2020 - Rhesa Paul
Rhesa graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2023 with her BFA. She was an intern in Eddie’s studio in 2018. Her creative passions continue today as a practicing painter, and she currently works as a Studio Coordinator at Derrick Adams’ studio in Brooklyn, NY.
Instagram: @rhesapaul
Website: www.rhesapaul.com
Cupped Hands (it's like she found gold) I, 2024
Preloved teak wood bowl acrylic paint
8 ¾ x 8 ⅞ x 4 ½ in
Cupped Hands (it's like she found gold) II, 2024
Preloved teak wood bowl acrylic paint
3 ½ x 11 ¾ x 12 ⅜ in
June Plum (She Just Held Two), 2024
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches
Their Beginnings and Mine: Elapsed I, 2022
Silkscreen and acrylic on canvas
60 x 44 in