Martin Ramirez

A wonderful story, terrific art, very uplifting and positive, against all odds that this man faced.

This is the most definitive catalog to come out on Martin Ramirez to date. It has a nice blend of scholarly writing as well as thorough documentation of the works themselves. Very nice to see the breadth of Ramirez' work, especially as the book shows themes that are repeated throughout his artistic output (I almost said "career", but that wouldn't apply at all). Especially interesting is the biographical timeline that attempts to contextualize the work with Ramirez' life. If you're interested in outsider art, this book is essential for your collection.

A beautifully bound edition from a true genius. It is rare that an artist can so elegantly bridge two cultures without resorting to kitsch. Martin Ramirez is a great master of American and Mexican art. His work is a testament to the intuitiveness of Mexican art and an homage to the expressionistic freedom of the American Idiom. A must have for collectors of nearly any genre from Moderne Art to Mexican and American art to Art Deco. Viva Martin!

This is a beautifully designed and bound monograph, with plenty of excellent color reproductions and several well-written essays that flesh out the story of this little-known artist. The thoroughly researched and illustrated biographical essay by Victor M. Espinosa and Kristin E. Espinosa deserves mention here. Martin Ramirez does not fall neatly under the folk art designation, as his work is not of the Mexican folk art tradition (in which he was not trained), nor easily under "outsider art", as his work reflects a striking depth of passion, emotional intelligence, and graphic power that, luckily, brought him to the attention of the art world well before his death.

I learned about Martin Ramirez life in an article in the NY Times. My [...] son and I were fascinated by his story and art. My boy could relate to Ramirez's imagery. We purchasd the collection of his work on impluse - it has been a wonderful addition to our collection of art and photography books. The book is wonderfully researched and the story of Ramirez and his journey from Mexico to maddness in the Sierra foothills is gripping. It is a true California story, with all its sadness, isolation and individualism. The book is very comprehensive of his works and is wonderfully laid out. Recently, my son and his art teacher worked on a reproduction of one of Ramirez's famour horses. The book and Ramirez's work will stay with us forever.