WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, Okla. – When asked to describe himself, Bobby Martin is a humble man of few words, choosing to simply describe himself as a Muscogee citizen, but he is far more than that.
Bobby C. Martin is a man of many talents. He has been a musician, a graphic designer, a recording studio owner, a teacher, and he is currently working as a professor at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Of course, what he’s known for is his work as an artist.
His works have been featured in numerous collections across Oklahoma, including the Philbrook and Gilcrease museums in Tulsa, and the Sam Noble Museum at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. His work is also featured in multiple locations across the globe, including the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, GA, the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, located in Hanover, NH, the Great Plains Art Museum, located in Lincoln, NE, and the British Library in London, England, also known as the National Library of the UK.
He is also known for having created a massive mural that is located in the main lobby of the Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare Facility in Tulsa, OK, titled Unbroken: The Council Oak Story. It was completed in 2023, is 80 feet long, and consists of 26 panels that tell the story of the Muscogee people and of their time in Oklahoma.
However, his latest project is one that should be paid attention to, as it brings to light the history, the culture, and the stories of the Muscogee people which have influenced Bobby’s work. He will be designing the cover of the latest edition of a publication by the National Academy of Medicine, titled Pathways to Achieving Health for Everyone, Everywhere: Exploring Systems Impact and Shared Solutions, which is scheduled to be released some time in February.
He would, during the course of an interview with Mvskoke Media, go on to explain how the project came about, and how it all started with a meeting in Atlanta at a conference about using art as a healing tool.
“The folks from NAM were there at this conference, and saw what the tribe was doing at Council Oak, as far as trying to be really purposeful in using art as a healing process. They saw some of my work there, and saw the mural, and contacted me about doing the artwork for this publication that they’re getting ready to release in February.”
Martin would explain how the NAM wants to bring attention to the health inequalities that are faced by Indigenous people.
“It has to do with health, access to health, and inequality for health access. So they saw my work, and they really want it to be about community, and helping communities, especially ethnic underserved communities to have fair and equal access to healthcare.”
Martin would mention how one of the things they particularly liked about his art style is his use of various types of media, including old family photos and a red plastic statue depicting an Indigenous warrior that has been dubbed “Clyde the Big Red Indian”. Martin is proud of his work and his ability to make a connection with both his family and the tribe he is a member of, as he mentions in the artist statement on his website.
“These images of close kinfolk and distant relatives have become icons for me, symbols of a Native American identity that is not seen as ‘traditional,’ but is just as valid and vital to me – a tradition of Indian Christianity and mission schools that has been part of my family history for generations. The images provide a connection with my past, a way to remember and honor the generations that have come before – a way to commemorate our unique family heritage.”
Bobby is extremely proud of his artwork and the impact it has had, and he is ready to continue his work as an artist full-time after he retires from his work as a professor.
Those who wish to see some of Bobby C. Martin’s work can find images of his artwork and more information about him on his website, https://www.bobbycmartin.com/home.
