For over ten years, Sebastian has focused on the art of carving. Much of the material used for his sculptures was salvaged from Baltimore’s historic, though often discarded, architecture.
Sebastian works on private commissions and commercial projects from his Baltimore studio. Clients include the United States Senate in Washington, DC, The National Basilica in Baltimore, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
His sculptures have been shown in numerous galleries and museums and can be found in prominent collections. He is a faculty member at the Maryland Institute of Art and is a repeat presenter for the American Craft Council. His work was featured in the Renwick Gallery’s 40 Under 40 show and is now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
THE WORK
7 Words Set In Stone
QUESTION: What do these words have in common? ANSWER: The Trump administration advised those at the HHS and CDC seeking federal funding against using these terms if they wanted greater chances of receiving that funding. For context follow the link here for an...
Hammer & Chisel
I know this is kinda silly but—like many makers, I have made liberal use of the traditional “craft-person” emoji: ⚒ However, specifically as a stone carver/mason, it never really felt right. I have been at this for many years and never one have I simultaneously held a...
Hi-Fructose Magazine: Sebastian Martorana’s Sculptures Forged in Reclaimed Marble
Great feature in Hi-Fructose by Andy Smith. Follow this link or click the image to see the write up.
PERMANENT SEPARATION ANXIETY
When I drop my children off at daycare or school I experience a minor amount of anxiety. I don’t like to admit it, but I do—and we have excellent childcare. https://youtu.be/45krhbcUziE I can get worried when I can’t get in touch with my wife when she is out...
How to Make Carving Tools on the Cheap
Part 1: Chisels [see below for Part 2: Mallets] As with a lot of specialized trades, just knowing where to get the right tools if half the battle-- the other half is finding a lending company to take out the loan required to purchase trade specific...