THE ARTIST

Sebastian Martorana is an artist living and working in Baltimore, MD.

He received his BFA in illustration from Syracuse University, where he also studied sculpture, including a semester in Italy. After graduating he became a full-time apprentice in a stone shop outside Washington, D.C. Sebastian received his MFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Rinehart School of Sculpture.

His studio is part of the stone shop at Hilgartner Natural Stone Company where he undertakes and directs commissioned stone carving, restoration and design, as well as his own sculptural works. Many of his works involve salvaged marble architectural elements from the city and their re-incorporation into individual and site-specific sculptures. Sebastian is also an adjunct professor in the at MICA.

Sebastian’s works have received numerous awards and are included in various private and public collections. His sculpture Impressions was featured in the exhibition “40 Under 40: Craft Futures,” at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The sculpture was acquired by the museum and is now part of their permanent collection.

Since the program’s inception, Sebastian has been a Let’s Make Partner at the American Craft Council’s annual Baltimore show. In 2015 Sebastian was one of five artisans selected by Anthony Bourdain to be part of The Balvenie Rare Craft Collection tour.

For a current catalogue, gallery information, or to schedule at studio visit, please contact at [email protected].

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Sebastian Martorana is the sole proprietor of Atlantic Custom Carving, LLC.

THE HISTORY

Exhibitions

2024

  • Wander. ABC Stone, Brooklyn, NY
  • Public/Private. The Academy Art Museum. Easton, MD

2023

  • The Foundations of What. Catalyst Contemporary, Baltimore, MD

2022

  • Art Miami. Showing with Catalyst Contemporary of Baltimore, Miami, FL

2021

  • Art Miami. Showing with Catalyst Contemporary of Baltimore, Miami, FL
  • Traces. The Kreeger Museum, Washington, DC

2019

  • Subject Matters. Solo Show, Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit, ME

2018

  • The Unveiling. Brooklyn, NY
  • Unveiled. Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
  • Sondheim Semi-finalist Show. Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
  • Craft Forms. Wayne, PA

2016

  • Connections. Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC

2015

  • Rinehart’s Studio: Rough Stone to Living Marble. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
  • Hand / Made. Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

2014

  • Strange Bedfellows. Visarts, Rockville, MD
  • (e)Merge. International Art Fair. Washington, D.C.
  • Sondheim Semi-finalist Show. Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

2012

  • Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition. University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD
  • 40 Under 40: Craft Futures. Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.
  • Unlived Histories. Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
  • House Show. Case[werks] Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2011

  • 80WSE Presents. Curators’ invitational show. 80WSE Gallery, New York University, New York, NY
  • (e) Merge. International Art Fair. Washington, D.C.
  • Sondheim Semi-finalist Show. Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
  • Exposed. The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
  • Successions. In/Flux Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2010

  • Uncommissioned Memorials. Solo Exhibition, Irvine Contemporary, Washington, D.C.
  • Sondheim Semi-finalist Show. Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
  • Hammer and Thread. Area 405, Baltimore, MD
  • Forum of Forty Champions. Minstallation Gallery, Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD

2009

  • MANIFEST HOPE:DC. Inaugural show, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
  • Sondheim Semi-finalist Show. Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

2008

  • Habitat. Rosenberg Gallery, Goucher College, Baltimore, MD
  • Introductions4. Irvine Contemporary, Washington, D.C.
  • Artscape Festival. Outdoor Sculpture Show, Baltimore, MD
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Collections

Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Patricia A. Young – Washington, D.C.; Ogunquit Museum of American Art – Ogunquit, ME; Kathleen and Kevin Buchi ­– Malvern, PA; Capital Broadcasting Company – Raleigh, NC; Laura & Todd Galiada – Washington, D.C.; Carl Bedell – Arlington, VA; David Akiluan – Washington, D.C.; Erik Smith – Washington, D.C.; John Martinec – Washington, D.C.; Aaron M. Flynn – Washington, D.C.; Kate Nicholson – Washington, D.C.; Myra and Stephen Kurzbard – Arlington, VA; Charles and Amy Newhall – Arlington, VA; Dr. Mildred Wang – Arlington, VA; Dr. Subir Jossan – Manassas, VA

Awards and Honors

2021

  • Panelist for Stories in Stone: Master Artisans on Tools, Technique, and Meaning. Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington, DC

2019

  • Make Space Partner, American Craft Council, Baltimore, MD

2018

  • Juror’s Award, Craft Forms 2018. Wayne Arts Center, Wayne, PA
  • Semi-Finalist for the Janet & Walter Prize Award, Baltimore, MD
  • Make Space Partner, 2018 American Craft Council Show. Baltimore, MD

2017

  • Make Space Partner, 2017 American Craft Council Show. Baltimore, MD

2016

  • Nominated for the American Craft Council Rare Craft Fellowship Award. Minneapolis, MN
  • Make Space Partner, 2016 American Craft Council Show. Baltimore, MD

2015

  • Make Space Partner, 2015 American Craft Council Show. Baltimore, MD

2014

  • Emerging Voices Nominee. American Craft Council Award. Minneapolis, MN
  • Individual Artist Award, Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore, MD
  • Conversation Corner Guest Speaker at the 2014 American Craft Council Show. Baltimore, MD

2013

  • Juror’s Choice Award (2nd Place Overall) Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition. UMUC, Adelphi,MD
  • Individual Artist Award, Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore, MD

2011

  • Semi-Finalist for the Janet & Walter Prize Award, Baltimore, MD

2010

  • Semi-Finalist for the Janet & Walter Prize Award, Baltimore, MD

2009

  • Semi-Finalist for the Janet & Walter Prize Award, Baltimore , MD

2008

  • Residency at the Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT. Provided though grants from the Vermont Studio Center and Maryland Institute College of Art Graduate Studies Program.
  • Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship – Honorable Mention, Office of Graduate Studies, Maryland Institute College of Art

2007

  • The William M. Phillips Scholarship, Outstanding Figurative Sculpture student MICA, Baltimore, MD

2006

  • Nominee, Jack Kent Cooke Fellowship, Syracuse University, Graduate Student Grant Application, Syracuse, NY

2003

  • Bruce E. Arnold Memorial Award, Outstanding Illustration student , Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2002

  • Study Abroad Grant, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Department of International Programs Abroad, Syracuse,NY

1999

  • Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
  • Founder’s Scholarship, Academic Scholarship, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Selected Carving Work
  • Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington, DC. Designated engraver for updates to the existing inscriptions
  • United States Federal Reserve, Washington, DC. Design and carving of the Grand Seal for the renovation of the Martin Building
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, Washington, DC. Inscription carving for the new national monument
  • Archdiocese of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. Group of 3 carved wooden coats of arms for Archbishop Lori.
  • Art in Transit, Herndon Station Dulles Metro Rail, VA. fabrication and installation of 60 unique etched granite pavers
  • The White House, Washington, DC. Design and carving of The White House Kitchen Garden dedication plaque for First Lady Michelle Obama
  • St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, NY. various stone and wood carving items
  • United States Senate, Carving of Presidential Bust Bases, Architect of the Capitol, Washington, DC.
  • Optical Rings, Carving and installation of stone and steel artwork for public sculpture at Johns Hopkins University
  • United States Capitol Building, Carving of Base of Winston Churchill Bust, Washington, DC. Architect of the Capitol
  • National Basilica, Archdiocese of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. Various stone and wood carving
  • Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Archdiocese of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. Various stone and wood carving
  • St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD. Statue replacement and restoration.
  • Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD. Carving of granite stars
  • Phillips Collection, Washington, DC.  supervision and execution of carving for building restoration
  • Johns Hopkins University, Gilman Hall Capital Campaign donor plaque, Baltimore, MD.
  • Carving The Mivkvah of Greater Washington, DC
  • Cornerstone carving at Baltimore City Hall, window surrounds. Baltimore, MD. carving.
  • Polo Ralph Lauren, Co., spiral stone staircase. Greenwich, CT. Layout, fabrication, carving.
  • William Donald Schaefer Memorial base, Baltimore Inner Harbor, MD. carving.
  • Loyola University, new entrance sign. Baltimore, MD. carving.
  • American Trial Lawyers Association, Hall of Fame Plaque. carving.
  • Iwo Jima Memorial, Quantico, VA. carving and restoration.
  • National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, VA. carving.
  • Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge entrance sign, VA and MD sides. carving.
  • National Holocaust Museum, Washington, DC carving.
  • Duke University, Perkins Library, Durham, NC. carving.
  • Kennedy Center for the Arts, Washington, DC carving.
  • National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC carving and restoration.
  • National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA. carving.
  • Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. carving and restoration.
  • Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC carving and restoration.
Work Experience

2008 – present

  • OWNER/EMPLOYEE Atlantic Custom Carving, LLC – Trading as Sebastianworks, Founder and owner
  • STONE CARVER & CONSULTANT PROJECT MANAGER Hilgartner Natural Stone, Baltimore, MD, Resident sculptor and carver

    2006 – present

    • ADJUNCT PROFESSOR Maryland Institute College of Art
      Intro to Stone Sculpture, Intro to Illustration, Junior Illustration, Drawing as Illustration, Illustration I, Intro to Graphic Design/Illustration

    2002 – 2006

    • APPRENTICE Manassas Granite & Marble Carving & Restoration Team
    Education
    2008

    • MFA Rinehart School of Sculpture, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

    2003

    • BFA, Illustration, Magna Cum Laude, Founders Scholar, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY